A Co. Armagh man was remanded into custody today (Monday) accused of murder.
Standing in the dock of Lisburn Magistrates’ Court in a grey tracksuit and with a cut to his forehead, 40-year-old Paul John Joseph Whitla, of no fixed address, was accused of the murder of Nathan Gibson (pictured) on January 16 this year.
Giving evidence to the court, Constable O’Donnell said he believed he could connect Whitla to the charge and as defence solicitor Gabriel Ingram confirmed he was not applying for bail, District Judge Rosie Watters remanded the alleged killer into custody to appear again at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court, via video link, on 14 February.
As Whitla was being taken to the cells, Mr Gibson’s partner Joanna Black stood up to watch him go while an older man shouted something indecipherable before being silenced by a friend.
None of the facts were heard in court today but it is understood 25-year-old Mr Gibson was discovered fatally wounded on a towpath near Lake Road in Craigavon late on Thursday.
The area was closed throughout Friday as police and forensics teams swept the area and the Legahory estate home of Mr Gibson was also cordoned off and under a heavy police presence.
Speaking following the murder, Detective Inspector John Caldwell said police received a report late on Thursday night that Mr Gibson had been attacked.
Officers responded and found him fatally wounded on the towpath and tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Caldwell also stated that police are investigating another incident in the Legahory Court area.
“Whilst we cannot get into specific details of this incident we are also appealing to anyone who witnessed anyone acting in a suspicious manner in this area late last night [Thursday] to contact police,” he said.
“I would ask anyone who has information that could assist me with my enquiries to contact detectives from Serious Crime Branch at Lurgan PSNI Station on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 1741 16/01/20.”
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