Four people appeared in a Northern Ireland court today charged with the New Year's Day murder of a man who was beaten to death.
A special court sitting in Armagh heard that the two men and two women denied the charge of murdering Adrian Thompson in Banbridge, Co Down.
The 29-year-old father of two was found beaten to death at 5 a.m. last Thursday at the rear of a house in the town's Leamount Park. Police believe a spade or shovel was used in the killing.
The accused were Mr Rodney Clarke (34), unemployed; Ms Joanne McMullen (20), a store worker; Mr Ralph Phillips (40), unemployed; and Ms Tracey Marshall (26), unemployed, all of Leamount Park.
A detective sergeant told the court that when he charged the four last night Mr Clarke replied: "Not guilty", Ms McMullen replied "no", and Ms Marshall and Mr Phillips each replied "definitely not guilty".
He said he believed he could connect all four accused with the charge.
The four, who appeared in the dock ringed by 15 police officers, were remanded in custody until January 29th to appear at Banbridge Magistrates' Court by video link.