Suspect in in murder of Roy Reynolds of Newtownabbey asked his mother former partner to bring electric hedge trimmers and plastic film to his house at 3 am, the court heard.
he court was also said Michael Campbell posted video on Facebook threatens to cut out victim’s ‘heart’ out” in a few weeks before murder.
Two men appeared in Laganside Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged in connection with in murder of Newtonabbie man Roy “Phobby” Reynolds.
Mr Campbell (32) with East Way address in Newtownabbie indicted with in murder of Mr. Reynolds Sometime between March 27th and 28th.
His co-defendant Robert Mervyn Fulton (aged 69), with address on Belfast Road, Ballyclear, charged with assisting the offender – this refers to assisting with order of deceased body.
The court ruled that the victim received “barbaric” bodily injuries.
The court was told by a member of in public contacted the police after seeing a man on Derrickle Way in Rathcoole dragging naked body out of in property to silver car and placing it in boot.
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Pacemaker Press Intl 300322 Laying flowers at the scene body of Roy Reynolds was found at Woodburn Reservoir in Carrickferg
The witness gave the police with registration number of in car and urgent requests were held out.
Two suspects were arrested when police officers stopped a silver vehicle just until 7 am in Clonmore Green area of Rathkul on March 28th.
BUT detective The inspector told the court that when car was stopped by the police vehicle the owner was identified as Fulton, with Campbell in passenger seat with blood on his face and his t-shirt.
blood pressure was found on bumper of in car and big amount of the blood was found in shoe of in car.
The account was not originally given.
Fulton later told police that there was a third person he did not know. know if he was dead or alive and he was left on the dam in Carrickfergus.
Campbell’s apartment was searched. clear signs of violation, with anterior blood staining of back apartment. Knife and screwdriver were found with staining with blood.
The electric hedge clipper was also discovered on sofa of flat.
While the searches were going on, a woman walked her dog discovered body partially naked in shallow water, with jeans and underwear around his ankles and with one shoes.
Near body.
His fingerprints identified him as Mr. Reynolds.
During lengthy interviews, Campbell made confessions, but claimed to have acted in self defense.
As for hedge trimmers, detective said: “Your Grace, Mr. Fulton, during the interrogation, admitted that the hedge clippers belonged to him, and he was asked to bring them to cut the hedge … but he thought it was good idea to bring him in at 3am, which he did, he also said he had been asked to bring plastic wrap.
“When asked what the plastic film was for, he said he heard riots in background of phone call and suggested that Mr Campbell had an argument with his partner at the time and that was reason for inquiry.”
The court learned that Fulton was in relations with Campbell mother and while it’s over, “he might be crazy with her so far.”
Specific Details of the victim’s injuries were not read to the court, but post- performed an autopsy out over two days and detective said the injuries were “substantial”.
Bail was rejected due to the “barbaric injuries” inflicted on the victim.
Police also said they were worried about interference with witnesses, saying, “The police find this quite difficult given the incident that has taken place, people are in fear of give written evidence.”
The court heard there was anger in in community and graffiti appeared around Rathcoole area in last days.
Mr Campbell, the court was told that currently on probationary period and criminal record with 30 convictions, including criminal record in Scotland where a man was attacked and given left ear “torn to the cartilage.”
The court said that he stabbed the previous partner with broken glass and on another case broke house and bit the female on cheek.
“There are numerous messages of Mr Campbell armed with knife and in in recent weeks it has been claimed that he posted Facebook video where he was armed with knife and made threats to harm Mr. Reynolds, in fact the threat was to reduce out his heart,” the officer said.
Campbell’s lawyer stated that his client asked him to “express in open court total repentance for an incident that occurred between him and the deceased, in fact as far as I understand, they were known to each other and their extended families knew each other.
“It will take some time to progress in this matter … he really has an effective defense in court, ”the lawyer added.
A lawyer representing Fulton said his client was “disabled person” and that, in this connection, a relevant adult was present at his interrogations.
His lawyer said he was “in fear of Michael Campbell”.
“Mr. Fulton exists on errands and call of Mr Campbell.
“Mr Campbell stopped from time to time in Mr Fulton home like his brother a man from Scotland who has a terrifying criminal record and Mr. Fulton can’t do anything about it.
He added that he: “Stuck with these monsters Around him.
“At all stages he was in terror of Mr Campbell and with very good reason,” is he added.
District Judge Mark McGarrity said: “Given what I’ve heard about this case, against Mr Campbell… I’m not considering any conditions of bail that may be imposed to satisfy risk of repeated crime.
Denying Fulton’s bail, Judge McGarrity said: “I agree that Mr. Fulton’s case is different … but his role in lid up and attempts to divert attention from Mr. Campbell’s actions are serious.”
The case has been adjourned to April 29. for review and both men taken into custody.
