TWO brothers have appeared in court charged with manslaughter following a fight outside a Weymouth pub.

Robin Shaun Randall, 30, of Woodland Way, Chickerell, and Ross Charles Randall, 31, of West Street, Chickerell, both appeared at Weymouth magistrates court yesterday.

They are jointly accused of causing the death of 34-year-old Michael Wooldridge, also of Chickerell, outside the Lugger Inn on Saturday night.

Neither of the men formally entered pleas during the hearing.

Magistrates heard that Mr Wooldridge, Ross Randall and Robin Randall had been drinking together and watching the Grand National at the pub that afternoon.

Prosecutor Nicola Raynsford said Mr Wooldridge had called his brother on several occasions that day and had ‘seemed to be in good spirits’ but had also ‘obviously been drinking’.

The court heard that a violent incident took place outside the pub later that evening and Mr Wooldridge sustained serious head injuries as a result.

Mr Wooldridge was treated by paramedics at the scene and rushed to Dorset County Hospital for further treatment but later died.

It was revealed in court that a postmortem conducted on Mr Wooldridge found he had sustained a fractured skull after his head struck the pavement.

David Coombe, defending, said Robin Randall lives with his partner Chloe, who works at Dorset County Hospital, and two children, aged 10 and eight months, in Chickerell.

Mr Coombe said Robin Randall has worked as a panel beater and spray painter in the area for the last 14 years.

The court heard that Ross Randall is single and owns a flat in Weymouth but had been due to move back into his parents’ property in West Street before his arrest.

Magistrates heard Ross Randall had worked as an engineer since leaving school around 15 years ago and had been in his present job for the last four years.

Magistrates adjourned the case until Tuesday, April 14, when the men will reappear before Dorchester Crown Court for a preliminary hearing.

In the meantime, magistrates released the brothers on bail with a number of conditions, including a surety of £2,500 paid for each of them by their mother Elaine.

The men are also required to live and sleep at their home addresses until the hearing and obey an 8.30pm to 7am curfew.

They must also report to Weymouth West police station on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and avoid all contact with Mr Wooldridge’s family, witnesses, and must not return to the Lugger Inn.

  • Police are still appealing for witnesses who were in the Lugger Inn from lunchtime on Saturday to contact them on 01305 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.