Corhampton murder: Four deny killing of man found dead in layby

The body of Gurinderjit Rai, a 41-year-old father-of-two from Eastleigh, was found in a car that was parked in Shepherds Farm Lane, Corhampton on July 13, 2019. He died as a result of shotgun wounds.

Today (Friday) Corin Barlow, 40, Aston Hannis, 29, Charlie Statham, 30, and Paul White, 26, appeared at Winchester Crown Court to enter pleas.

The four, flanked by security staff, all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Rai.

Barlow also denied being in possession of a firearm to enable Hannis to endanger life.

A fifth defendant Philip Hodan, of Longwood Dean Lane, Owslebury, pleaded not guilty to participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group, involving his fellow defendants, by allowing his address to be used as an operational base to supply class A drugs and murder of Mr Rai or/and a false alibi. 

Mr Justice Garnham has set a date for the trial, expected to last six weeks, to begin at the same court on January 7, 2021.

The layby opposite Corhampton Golf Club where Gurnderjit Rai was killed

Barlow, of Lumley Road, Horley, Surrey; Hannis, of Leah Gardens, Eastleigh; Statham, of Crescent Close, Winchester; and White, of Dyson Drive, Winchester, are remanded in custody until the trial.

Hodan was released on bail with conditions not to contact his co-defendants, report at Southampton Central Police Station weekly and not to apply for travel documents.

Following his death, Mr Rai’s family paid tribute, saying: “Gurinderjit was a devoted father to his two young children and a loving fiancé to his partner. He adored his parents.

“He had an infectious sense of humour and would always find the best of any situation.

“He was a principled man and would always be the first to offer help to those that needed it. He will be missed dearly by all his family and friends.”