Woman charged with murder

There was uproar in court yesterday when a woman was charged with murdering Mr Geordie McDowell (47), whose body was found in…

There was uproar in court yesterday when a woman was charged with murdering Mr Geordie McDowell (47), whose body was found in the Rathcoole estate outside Belfast last week.

Friends of the dead man shouted abuse at the accused - Ms Alison Michelle Martin (31), of no fixed address, when she appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court.

As the charge of murdering Mr McDowell was being read out, a man in the public gallery shouted: "Not forgotten either."

Minutes later as Ms Martin was being escorted from the dock to the cells, a woman, who had been crying during the brief hearing, shouted to her: "I hope you don't get bail, you evil bitch."

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A male companion thumped the reinforced glass panel surrounding the dock, and called out: "We won't forget you, you skinny bastard. You are f . . . king dead."

Det Sgt David Skelly had earlier told the court that when Ms Martin was charged, she replied: "Not guilty."

He said he believed he could connect Ms Martin to the charge, and when asked by defence solicitor Mr Mark Campbell if she had steadfastly maintained her innocence during police interviews, he replied: "Yes."

Ms Martin was remanded in custody to appear again on August 31st via a video link, and was told by the magistrate that she could apply to the High Court for bail.

Mr McDowell, who had been living at Utility Street, Belfast, died from a single stab wound. He was in a flat at Crossreagh Drive, Rathcoole, when he was stabbed with a kitchen knife which penetrated an artery near his left ear, and he died from internal bleeding.