Published Friday, 27 August 2010
Paul Stockman, aged 53, from Elm Court in the Donegall Pass area of south Belfast, was charged with murdering Patricia Bardon last Monday, which was her 51st birthday.
A detective told the Magistrates Court that he believed he could connect Stockman to the charge and objected to him being released on bail.
Defence solicitor Patrick Kelly intervened to say that an application for bail was not being made at present.
"The reason, quite frankly, is that the address at which the defendant and the deceased resided is now a crime scene and there is no suitable alternative address," said Mr Kelly.
The investigating detective said in reply to questions from Mr Kelly that he could confirm the couple had been in a relationship for five years and at the time of Ms. Bardon's death they were living together.
The detective also confirmed that in the course of police interviews Stockman had not made any written admissions.
Asked if both the victim and the defendant had a dependency on alcohol, he replied: "Yes."