Five men appear in court charged with conspiring to murder Christopher Hughes

Five men have been appeared in court charged with conspiracy to commit murder following the death of Christopher Hughes.

The 37-year-old dad was last seen in the Worsley Hall area of Wigan at 4pm on February 18. His body was found by a dog walker in a ditch off White Moss Road South in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, close to the M58 motorway on the morning of February 22.

A post mortem concluded he died as a result of multiple serious injuries.

Read more: Jesse Lingard victim of £100k burglary as thieves target Manchester United star's house

On Saturday morning Alan Jaf, 51, of Ridyard Street, Wigan; Khalil Awla, 48, of Greenwood Avenue, Wigan; Erland Spahiu, 33, of Uppingham, Skelmersdale; Curtis Balbas, 30, of Matheson Drive, Wigan and Dean Smeaton O'Neill-Davey, 29, of Bulteel Street, Wigan appeared at Manchester magistrates' court charged with conspiracy to murder.

All five were remanded in custody until their next hearing at Manchester Crown Court on April 8.

Christopher's mum, Susan, has previously paid tribute to him, saying: "The family of Chris wish everyone to respect their privacy at this difficult time and are heartbroken at the loss of their loving son, father, brother and uncle. He will leave a part in the family that can never be filled. RIP Christopher David Hughes."

Read more: Terrifying footage shows British journalist in Ukraine shot and wounded in Russian ambush near Kyiv

Also read: Police search for man after woman left with 'significant and extensive injuries'

Click here for the latest headlines from the Manchester Evening News