A 28-year-old doctor from south Belfast is to stand trial later this year charged with murdering his mother.
Declan Kevin O'Neill appeared today at Belfast Crown Court where he spoke twice - first to confirm his name, then to deny murdering his 51-year-old mother.
Anne O'Neill, a retired nurse, was found in the garden of her elderly parents' home at Ardmore Avenue in Finaghy at around 7am on October 21 2017.
The mother-of-two was found on the grass with head injuries and despite medical intervention she died at the scene.
Her 28-year-old son Declan, from Malone Avenue, was charged with murdering Mrs O'Neill and has been on remand since his arrest in October 2017.
When the clerk of the court put the murder charge to a shaking O'Neill, he tearfully replied "not guilty".
Defence barrister Greg Berry said the defence are seeking an expert report from a doctor in England.
Mr Justice Colton set the hearing for the two-week trial as May 20, and said he would review the case at the start of April.
The judge remanded O'Neill back into custody.
