Man and Woman Accused of Co Down Man’s Murder Appear in Court
A man and a woman have been remanded in custody after appearing before a judge charged with the murder of 50-year-old Mark Dorrian in Newtownards. Mr. Dorrian passed away in the hospital after being found unconscious with head injuries at a property in the West Street area of the Co Down town in the early hours of Boxing Day. Carl Kerr, 36, of Corry Street, in Newtownards, and Claire Rees, 33, of no fixed abode, were handcuffed and stood throughout the hearing as they appeared together in the dock at Downpatrick Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The defendants, dressed in grey sweatsuits, confirmed their personal details and acknowledged the charges they faced during the court appearance. A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detective sergeant informed the court that the police could connect the defendants to the offense. It was revealed that a footprint was discovered on Mr. Dorrian’s head, and an emergency pull cord was activated in the apartment after the attack, triggering a 50-minute audio recording that captured crucial evidence.
Evidence Links Defendants to the Scene
The detective sergeant disclosed that although current indications exclude the footwear worn by Kerr as the one that left the mark on Mr. Dorrian’s head, there is significant CCTV evidence linking him to the scene. Additionally, a photograph of the deceased with injuries was taken while both defendants were present in the premises approximately an hour before the emergency pull cord was activated. This suggests that Mr. Dorrian had been lying injured for a considerable period before help arrived.
Defense lawyer Joe Mulholland, representing Kerr, raised doubts about the connection between the accused and the offense, citing the absence of independent witnesses to the incident. Solicitor John Finucane, defending Rees, chose not to question the PSNI officer at that time. Both defendants were ordered to appear in custody via videolink at Newtonards Magistrates’ Court on January 22 by Deputy District Judge Paul Copeland.
Release of Another Arrested Individual
On a related note, the PSNI announced that a 58-year-old woman who was also arrested in connection with Mr. Dorrian’s death has been released unconditionally. For the latest updates on this developing story, visit the Belfast Live homepage and subscribe to the daily newsletter for more information.
