A 26-year-old man was remanded in custody yesterday accused of killing a teenager whose body was found buried on farmland in Co Down. Mr Norman James Coopey, of Bryansford Road, Newcastle, Co Down, was charged at a special sitting at Downpatrick with murdering 16-year-old James Morgan from Castlewellan on Thursday.
The teenager's body was found after a three-day RUC search of farmland at Clough.
A detective inspector told the court that when charged, Mr Coopey replied: "No."
A defence solicitor asked the detective if he could confirm whether police have come to the view that this alleged offence has any sectarian nature. The detective replied: "We are pursuing all lines of inquiry and we are not ruling out that possibility."
Mr Coopey spoke only twice during the five-minute court hearing, to confirm his identity and to acknowledge that he understood the charge. He was remanded in custody to appear in court again on August 13th. - (PA)