Men charged in Joss Stone plot had sword in car

British singer Joss Stone performs during the second day of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., Saturday, April 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

  By JILL LAWLESSLONDON -- Two men charged with plotting to rob and assault British soul singer Joss Stone had a samurai sword in their car when they were arrested, a lawyer said Thursday.

Junior Bradshaw, 30, and 33-year-old Kevin Liverpool were arrested Monday morning near Stone's house in the town of Cullompton, 175 miles (280 kilometers) southwest of London, after residents reported a suspicious-looking vehicle.

They appeared Thursday at Exeter Magistrates' Court in southwest England on charges of conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Ann Hampshire told the court that items including the sword and notes relating to Stone had been found in the suspects' car.

The defendants spoke only to confirm their identities and were ordered detained until their next hearing on July 1. No members of Stone's family were in court.

The 24-year-old singer, who is due to start a European tour next month, said in a statement that she was "absolutely fine and getting on with life as normal."

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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