Belfast man accused of killing older brother by careless driving

An east Belfast man has been charged and ordered to stand trial accused of killing his older brother by careless driving.

Standing in the dock of Newtownards Magistrates Court, 27-year-old John Andrews was charged with causing the death of his brother Marc Andrews (32) by careless driving whilst unfit to drive on March 11th last year.

Mr Andrews, from Rosneath Court in Dundonald, was also charged with failing to provide a specimen of breath within 18 hours of the incident.

Marc Andrews died as a result of injuries he sustained in the one vehicle crash on the Deerpark Road in Portaferry.

John Andrews declined to say anything in answer to the charges or to call any evidence or witnesses on his behalf.

Although no facts of the case were opened in court, a prosecuting lawyer submitted there is a prima facie case against the accused and as his solicitor had no contrary submissions, District Judge Mark Hamill returned him to Downpatrick Crown Court for trial.

Releasing Mr Andrews on his own bail of £500 and ordering him to appear in the Crown Court on January 22nd for arraignment, the judge granted a defence application to extend legal aid to allow a senior QC to be instructed in the case.