Death threat to murder charge woman

Death threats were issued against a woman accused of murdering a man near Belfast as she appeared in court today.

As Alison Martin, 31, was hurried from the dock, a man punched the glass panelling and screamed: “We will not forget you, you skinny bastard, you are f****** dead.”

Martin, of no fixed address, has been charged with killing Geordie McDowell, 47, whose body was discovered in a flat on the northern outskirts of the city.

He was found with a single stab wound to the head on the Rathcoole Estate last week.

Although Martin denies the murder, a detective sergeant told Belfast Magistrates’ Court he believed he could connect her with the offence.

As the charge was read out, a man in the public gallery cried out: “Not forgotten either”. A woman beside him sobbed throughout the short hearing.

A solicitor for the accused, Mark Campbell, insisted his client had steadfastly maintained her innocence throughout police questioning.

She was remanded in custody to appear again on August 31, but as court guards led her towards the cells there was a brief uproar.

The woman who had been crying shouted out: “I hope you don’t get bail, you evil bitch”.

Her companion then lunged at the dock and delivered his threat. They were quickly escorted out of the courtroom.