A MAN has appeared in court charged with the murder of Limavady man, Darren McGurk.
Karl Mark John Watson (32) from Glenview Drive in Limavady was also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Watson appeared at Coleraine Magistrate’s Court yesterday after Mr McGurk (23) died in hospital on Sunday four days after suffering a serious head injury in an alleged assault at a house at Glenbeg Drive in the Co Derry town.
The 32-year-old accused was arrested on Friday and originally charged with causing grievous bodily harm and attempting to pervert the course of justice. However, he was re-arrested on Sunday and charged with murder following Mr McGurk’s death.
The accused, who appeared in handcuffs, remained silent throughout yesterday’s hearing speaking only to confirm that he understood the charges against him. A police witness told the court she believed she could connect Watson with the charges.
Watson’s solicitor told District Judge, Peter King that his client’s family had asked him to pass on their “sincere condolences” to the McGurk family in what he described as a “tragic situation.” The lawyer also told the court he had been “specifically instructed” not to make a bail application.
The accused was remanded in custody to appear by video link on April 15.
Police have appealed for help in tracing Mr McGurk’s movements in the hours before last Wednesday’s alleged assault. Detective Chief Inspector Peter McKenna urged anyone who was in touch with the victim by text or phone or who saw him earlier on Wednesday to come forward.
Mr McKenna said: “I want to establish an accurate picture of what occurred on Wednesday night so Darren’s family know exactly what happened to their loved one.”
Mr McGurk’s mother and six brothers have appealed for privacy.
