Court told murder victim died from strangulation

Kevin Davidson was found dead 12 days after going missing

A man and a woman have appeared in court in Belfast charged with the murder of Kevin Davidson, whose body was found on 20 July.

In the dock at Belfast Magistrates' Court were Jade Mary Anna Harrison, 35, from Donegall Avenue in Belfast and Colam Barry McClenaghan, 32, who the court heard has "no firm abode".

The court was told Mr Davidson, 34, had died by strangulation with a clothesline.

It also heard that the two accused had known the victim.

Mr Davidson had been in a relationship with Ms Harrison who is now in a relationship with her co-accused Mr McClenaghan.

Police told the court that Mr Davidson was killed after he walked in on them being intimate.

'Transient lifestyle'

The police investigation was initially a missing person one.

Mr Davidson, 3,4 had been reported missing from 9 July by his mother.

She told police he lived a “transient” lifestyle but that this was unusual and “very worrying”.

During the time he was missing police visited the house in Donegall Avenue several times but had been unable to access the back yard.

On 20 July, police found Mr Davidson's body in the back yard in a sleeping bag, covered by bin bags with weights placed on top.

Police also found a bin bag of blood-stained clothing and a collection of air fresheners, aerosols and perfume at the property.

Solicitors representing the two accused said they did not know the body was there, adding that the police had not seen it during their visits either.

More than 130 items were removed from the house in Donegall Avenue and are due for forensic examination.

Left hospital

In the days before his death, Mr Davidson had been in hospital after an overdose.

A solicitor for the defence told the court that Mr McClenaghan had administered CPR and an ambulance was called.

It also heard that Mr Davidson had accused Ms Harrison of stealing £300 and a mobile phone from him.

On the night he is believed to have been murdered, Mr Davidson discharged himself from hospital and was captured on CCTV with Ms Harrison and Mr McClenaghan.

He was also seen getting into an altercation with an unidentified man, after which he, along with the two accused returned to the house in Donegall Avenue.

District Judge Anne Marshall ruled there was sufficient evidence to connect the accused to the charge of murder.

With no applications for bail, she remanded the pair in custody until 22 August.