A teenager appeared in court today charged with killing a guesthouse owner during a break-in in Co Down.
James William McCoy (19) was accused of murdering 68-year-old Billy Spence at the Tara Guesthouse he ran in the seaside town of Bangor.
Mr Spence was beaten and knifed to death late 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.
The teenager, 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 that he believed he could connect the teenager to the charges. Mr McCoy, who appeared in the dock handcuffed to a guard, spoke only to confirm his name.
Mr Spence had run the guesthouse in Princetown Road, Bangor, for 18 years and is believed to have been killed after returning home and disturbing an intruder.
A solicitor representing Mr McCoy said a bail application would be made to the High Court. But he said his client was a vulnerable person suffering from a mental disorder which made it difficult to find suitable accommodation.
PA