Man charged with killing tennis player

A 19 year old man has been charged with the manslaughter of Belfast tennis player Gareth Parker

A 19 year old man has been charged with the manslaughter of Belfast tennis player Gareth Parker. Mr Parker (23) died in hospital on Tuesday after being attacked outside a bar on the Antrim Road last weekend.

Mr Andrei Shoukri, from Westland Way, north Belfast, was remanded in custody and is to apply for bail in the High Court today.

Mr Parker, a professional tennis player based in Dublin, was in Belfast visiting his family. A police officer told the Magistrates Court there was no evidence the attack was sectarian.

Defence solicitor Mr Billy McNulty said Mr Shoukri had asked him to express his heartfelt remorse for his actions which led to Mr Parker's death.

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Mr Gary MacKenzie (24), from Halliday's Road, Belfast, was charged with causing actual bodily harm to Mr Thomas Williamson (23) during the same incident. Mr MacKenzie, who went voluntarily to the RUC, was remanded in custody until next Thursday.