Man in court accused of murdering Kathryn Parton

Kathryn Parton was found with serious head injuries at her home in Madrid Street

The partner of a woman found dead in a bedroom of an east Belfast house has appeared in court charged with her murder.

Jamie Love, 23, from Madrid Street, is charged with murdering the 34-year-old, the offence aggravated by reason of involving domestic abuse.

Ms Parton - known as Kat - was found with serious head injuries and pronounced dead at the scene on Wednesday 15 May.

Mr Love, who was Ms Parton's partner, is charged with murder some time between the 9 and 15 May.

Also appearing in court was Suzanne Love, the accused’s mother, who is 43 and from Isoline Street.

Ms Love faces three charges in connection with the death, including attempting to pervert the course of justice.

She is alleged to have removed evidence from the crime scene and attempting to destroy said evidence, such as clothing and footwear.

Ms Love is also charged with assisting and offender and aiding and abetting a breach of bail.

The third person in court in connection with the case was 22-year-old Reece Oliver from Castleton Avenue in Belfast, who is charged with assisting an offender and aiding and abetting breach of bail.

The court heard that Jamie Love was Kat Parton’s partner and had lived on and off at the Madrid Street address

The court heard Ms Parton’s body was discovered at her home on 15 May by her father who was concerned after not hearing from her for a number of days.

When he found her, he told emergency services she was cold and not breathing, and badly beaten.

When police arrived, she was lying beside a bed with blood around her and on the walls.

Police said there were signs of a disturbance, with a TV fallen to the floor and brackets remaining on the wall.

Police told the court that post-mortem investigations could not establish when exactly she had died from her injuries.

However, the cause of death is thought to be haemorrhaging.

The court heard that Jamie Love was Ms Parton’s partner and had lived on and off at the Madrid St address.

Arrest outside courtroom

The court heard Ms Parton was last seen alive on 9 May on CCTV and by witnesses in the company of Jamie Love.

The court also heard that after 9 May, Jamie Love travelled to Strabane and Portaferry to Stay in properties booked by his mother Suzanne Love and was transported by Mr Oliver.

The court also heard Ms Love had changed her statement.

She had initially said when the three accused arrived at the house on 9 May that she had seen Ms Parton crying but not injured.

She later said that Ms Parton was in fact injured in the bedroom but was responsive.

The court also heard that footwear which matched footprints in blood had been recovered from Ms Love’s property and had been washed and were seen on CCTV put out to dry in the sun.

Refusing their applications for bail, District Judge Steven Keown cited the risks of interference with witnesses and re-offending.

All three accused were remanded in custody, to appear back in court on June 17.

As the three defendants were led from the court, members of the public shouted abuse and threats towards them.

One person was arrested outside the courtroom.