Two 19-year-old men were remanded in custody when they appeared in court in Co Down charged with the attempted murder of a taxi driver.
Luke Hawkins of Balfour Street, Newtownards, and Michael Massey, of Abbot Gardens in the town, denied the charge when they appeared before Newtownards Magistrates Court.
They were charged in connection shooting of a taxi driver who was hit five times as he sat in his cab at Stirling Avenue in the West Winds Estate in the town early on Saturday morning.
A detective inspector from the Organised Crime Squad told the court that when charged Mr Hawkins replied not guilty and Mr Massey made no comment. He said he believed he could connect both men to the charge.
The officer agreed both had strenuously denied the charge and given an account of their movements last Saturday during 16 interviews.
The men, who appeared in the dock handcuffed to court officials, were remanded in custody to appear before the same court by video link on September 23rd.
PA