Two men appear in court charged with murder in Ballymena

By Paul Higgins

The body of a murder victim is to be retained as one of his alleged killers considers a second autopsy, a court heard today (sat).

At Ballymena Magistrates Court, sitting in Belfast, 33-year-old Samuel Hugh Atcheson and Stephen Hunter (29) appeared separately on videolink from police custody where they confirmed they understood the charge against them. 

Ballymena men Atcheson, from the Crebilly Road and Hunter, from Lanntara, are jointly accused of the murder of 33-year-old Donald Harold Fraser-Rennie on a date unknown between 28 to 30 September this year after he was allegedly beaten to death in Atcheson’s flat. 

Speaking at the time the body was discovered, Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said “at this stage I believe that Donald was the victim of a vicious, sustained and violent beating which resulted in his death” and while none of the facts surrounding the death were not opened in court (today), giving evidence Detective Constable O’Donnell said he believed he could connect the men to the offence. 

Neither man applied for bail but under cross examination from defence counsel Michael Smith, acting for Hunter, the detective confirmed he was aware the defence are seeking to have a second autopsy of Mr Fraser-Rennie’s body. 

He told the lawyer it would be up to DCI Caldwell whether the full content of the initial post mortem examination would be released to the defence, adding that he had already contacted the forensic mortuary to ensure the body of the victim is retained to facilitate a second post mortem. 

DC O’Donnell also confirmed to Atcheson’s defence solicitor Hamill Clawson that his client was initially interviewed by police as a witness before being charged. 

The officer agreed that Atcheson had “given a full account” during formal police interviews after his arrest for murder which was “in line” with his interviews as a witness. 

Both men, the court heard, were interviewed in the company of an “appropriate adult” and Mr Smith stressed that when Hunter is taken to Maghaberry, “there’s an urgent need for psychiatric assessment.”

Remanding both men into custody, District Judge George Conner adjourned the case to 29 October.