A 46-year Co Down man will stand trial in the New Year on a charge of murdering his neighbour.
Timothy Graham was killed in his Enterprise Court home in Bangor in October, 2019.
The 47-year old - who was originally from Hillsborough - was found in his sheltered accommodation with fatal stab wounds.
Ian Vance, also with an address at Enterprise Court in Bangor, appeared at Belfast Crown Court via a videolink with Maghaberry yesterday.
He was charged with two offences - murdering Mr Graham on October 21, 2019 and possessing cannabis on the same date - and pleaded 'not guilty' to both charges.
Mr Justice O'Hara asked defence barrister Eugene Grant QC "is the issue in this case essentially a psychiatric one rather than a dispute of the facts?"
Mr Grant confirmed this was the case and said medical reports on his client, including a psychiatric report, will be provided, which he said may result in "a shorter proceeding."
The judge said: "Mr Graham's family is anxious for this all to be brought to an end as soon as possible.
"If, as a result of the medical reports which are going to be obtained, the case can be brought forward in any way, that can be arranged."
Mr Justice O'Hara set the trial date for January 17 but said "there is a prospect ... that it might be possible to bring that date forward so that the Graham family doesn't have to wait until next year, which would be more than two years since Mr Graham was killed".
