Man to face trial for Seeley murder

At an arraignment hearing today (Friday) in Belfast Crown Court, Mark Daniel Ward (25), of Drumellan Gardens, Moyraverty, Craigavon, pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Seeley on October 11, 2015.

Mr Seeley, 34, was found dead in his flat at Dingwell Park in Taghnaven, Craigavon by a relative.

At a previous court hearing, a detective sergeant said that a post-mortem showed that Mr Seeley had died from blunt force trauma to his head which involved kicking, while a footwear pattern suggested stamping.

The officer told the court of the movements of the accused and in a heavily intoxicated state he is alleged to have said to a neighbour: ‘Junior, two uppercuts and one to the head’.

During today’s hearing, defence counsel Charles McCreanor QC said a number of medical reports would be produced by expert witnesses following an examination of Mr Ward.

He told Mr Justice Treacy that the defendant “does not read or write’’, has a medical history and the reports would assist with the accused’s understanding of the trial process.

Mr Justice Treacy fixed the trial date for March 20, 2017, at Belfast Crown Court.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.