Men accused of murder in Ballymena: Preliminary Enquiry set to be held

TWO men accused of murder are set to have a Preliminary Enquiry - the legal step to send a case to the Crown Court - held on October 19.

Samuel Hugh John Atcheson (34), of Crebilly Road in Ballymena and Stephen Hunter (30), of Lanntara in the town, are charged with murdering Donald Fraser-Rennie in Ballymena in September 2020.

The case was mentioned at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena.

The body of 33-year-old Mr Fraser-Rennie was found at an address at Crebilly Road in September, 2020.

At the time, a PSNI Detective Chief Inspector had said in a press statement: "At this stage I believe that Donald was the victim of a vicious, sustained and violent beating which resulted in his death”.

• Main picture: Mr Donald Fraser-Rennie.