Nine Tonbridge heist suspects appear in court

LONDON, July 10 (Reuters) Nine people accused of being involved in Britain's biggest-ever cash heist, the 53-million-pound raid on a cash depot in Tonbridge, Kent, appeared at the Old Bailey court today for the first time.

A tenth, martial arts expert and Moroccan native Lee ''Lightning'' Murray, will also face trial over the haul, the court was told.

Police want to extradite the 26-year-old Murray, arrested in Rabat on 25 June, but the court heard he could face a separate trial in Morocco.

The six men and three women appeared via video-link to face charges connected to February's raid at a depot run by Swedish company Securitas.

The eventual trial, due in April next year, is expected to last some four months.

Car dealer John Fowler, aged 60, of Staplehurst, Kent has been charged with conspiracy to rob, and three counts of kidnapping and of handling stolen goods.

Warehouse worker Raluca Millen, aged 25, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent; garage owner Roger Coutts, 29, of Welling, southeast London and sales assistant Katie Philp, 23, of Tonbridge, have all been charged with conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to kidnap.

Car salesman Stuart Royle, 47, of Maidstone, Kent; unemployed Jetmir Bucpapa, 25, of Tonbridge; roofer Lea Rusha, 34 of Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells and Ermir Hysenaj, 26 of Crowborough, East Sussex are charged with conspiracy to rob.

Hairdresser Kim Shackleton, 39, and signwriter Keith Borer, 53, both of Maidstone, have been charged with handling stolen goods.

Borer will appear at Maidstone Magistrate's Court tomorrow.

None of the accused is expected to enter a plea until early October, the court heard.

Reuters KD GC1620