Newcastle woman denies 'aiding' rape of boy, 7
A woman has pleaded not guilty to facilitating the rape of a seven-year-old boy.
The 69-year-old woman from Newcastle was allegedly present when the boy was attacked, the city's crown court heard.
Three men, one of whom has since died, face rape charges and the cases are progressing through the courts.
The woman has been granted bail and is due in court again on 11 April. The alleged offence took place January 2012 and December 2013.
The woman was granted bail on condition she does not have unsupervised contact with children under 16.
The men who still face charges are aged 21 and 32. Both are from Newcastle.
A 45-year-old, also from Newcastle, died while on remand at Durham Prison as he awaited his next court appearance.
Durham Police said the death, on 28 December, was not being treated as suspicious.