Two men have been charged with burglary at Tottenham Hotspur's stadium in North London while popstar Beyonce performed to a sold-out crowd. Alirza Dag, 22, and Murat Kodalakoglu, 23, allegedly broke into a VIP rooftop terrace at the venue, causing £1,700 worth of damage to an electronic keypad.
Incident Details
The alleged break-in occurred on June 16 last year, the final night of Beyonce's six sold-out shows at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as part of her Cowboy Carter world tour. Prosecutors claim the two men entered Lilywhite House, which houses administration offices at the £1 billion stadium, with intent to steal. They are also accused of cutting wires on the electronic access panel to reach a balcony terrace typically reserved for senior club executives.
Court Proceedings
Appearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Monday, Dag denied the burglary charge. His lawyer, Katie McFadden, stated that Dag had no plan to steal anything. After entering a not guilty plea, Dag elected a jury trial, and his case was sent to Wood Green Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on June 18. He was released on unconditional bail.
Co-defendant Kodalakoglu did not attend court. Dag informed the court that Kodalakoglu was unaware of the hearing and was attending his brother's wedding. Magistrates adjourned his first hearing until May 27.
Charges
Both men face charges of burglary and criminal damage. The case continues.
