Men appear in court over Clapham gay murder

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Two men appeared at a magistrates court earlier today in connection with the death of the gay bar man, Jody Dobrowski.

Thomas Pickford (25) who is homeless and Scott Walker (33) a homeless decorator appeared at South Western Magistrates’ Court.

They spoke only to confirm their names and date of birth. Their solicitors made no application for bail and the pair have been remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 31st January 2006.

Mr Dobrowski was found unconscious in the early hours of Saturday but died later in hospital. He had suffered a violent, homophobic attack that caused head, neck and facial injuries.

It had previously emerged that the police believed that his assailants may have verbally abused a woman in a nearby street fifteen minutes prior to the murder.

Police have also appealed for ten to twelve people who were known to have been on the common at the time and who may have witnessed the attack to come forward. They also wish to establish Mr Dobrowski’s movements between 10:15pm when he left a friends house and just after midnight when he was found by a police officer.

Detectives are examining the links between the murder and a series of homophobic attacks on the popular cruising ground.