A man and woman have been remaned in custody charged in connection with the death of a man whose body was found in a lake in Co Down.
David Gill from Ballyglighorn Road in Comber, Co Down, appeared at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of William “Pat” McCormick (55).
The court heard the 26-year-old replied “not guilty” when the charge was put to him by police.
Mr Gill made no application for bail.
His fiancee Lesley-Ann Dodds appeared later in the same court accused of perverting the course of justice and aiding and abetting Mr McCormick’s murder.
The court heard the police accept she was not “physically” involved in the murder or disposal of the body.
A bail application on behalf of the 21-year-old, from Mountcollyer Avenue in Belfast, who denies involvement in the murder, was rejected by Judge Rosalie Prytherch.
A detective inspector told the court Mr Gill was inside his apartment in Comber when Mr McCormick arrived on the evening of May 30th. She said that, while CCTV showed the accused leaving two-and-a-half hours later, Mr McCormick was never seen alive again.
His body was found by specialist divers in a lake at a disused quarry at nearby Ballygowan this week following an anonymous tip-off.
Ms Dodds and Mr Gill were remanded in custody to appear before the same court via video-link on August 2nd. – PA