A YOUNG man appeared in court in the North yesterday charged with killing a guesthouse owner during a break-in.
James William McCoy (19) was accused of murdering Billy Spence (69) at the Tara guesthouse he ran in Bangor, Co Down.
Mr Spence was beaten and knifed to death on the night of June 30th. His body was discovered by his partner the following morning.
Mr McCoy was also charged at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court with entering the guesthouse armed with a knife with the intention to steal, and a further charge of entering as a trespasser and stealing a mobile phone.
Mr McCoy, whose address was given as The Simon Community, Central Avenue, Bangor, was remanded in custody to appear by video link at the same court on August 1st.
A detective inspector told the court he believed he could connect Mr McCoy to the charges.
Mr Spence had run the guesthouse on Princetown Road for 18 years.
A solicitor representing Mr McCoy said a bail application would be made to the High Court.
However, he said his client was a vulnerable person suffering from a mental disorder, which made it difficult to find suitable accommodation. – (PA)