A MAN accused of killing a 29 year-old Newcastle man is to stand trial next month.
Donach Rice (21), of Kilkeel Road, Annalong, is charged with the manslaughter of Padraig Fox at his Burrendale Park Road flat on December 8 last year.
Rice faces two further charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice by making a false statement to police and faking a knife wound to give the impression he was defending himself.
Rice also faces one charge of fraud by cashing in a betting slip belonging to Mr Fox, stealing drink during a burglary at the Slieve Donard Hotel and attempting to rob a man.
Rice appeared briefly at a preliminary enquiry hearing at Downpatrick Magistrates Court on Monday.
Standing beside him in the dock were his cousin, Nathan Rice (20), of Saul Street, Downpatrick, and Paul Magennis (27), of Burrendale Park Road, Newcastle.
Nathan Rice is accused of perverting the course of justice by making a false statement to police and being involved in a burglary at the Slieve Donard Hotel.
Magennis also faces two charges of perverting the course of justice by placing a knife below Mr Fox’s hand following his death and allowing himself to be inflicted with a knife wound to give the impression he was defending himself. He is also charged with attempted robbery.
Lawyers for the three defendants conceded they had a case to answer.
Donach Rice and Magennis were remanded in custody to appear at Laganside Court in Belfast on September 27. Nathan Rice was remanded on bail to appear at the same court.