Murder accused told police he ‘punched and kicked’ victim
A FATHER-of-one facing a murder charge told a friend that he thought he broke his foot attacking his victim, a court has heard.
Rhys Magee is accused of murdering Richard Miskelly (24), who died in the driveway of a Newtownards house in February.
Magee, who was granted bail with strict conditions by Mr Justice Colton yesterday, is due to be arraigned later this month.
Belfast Crown Court heard Magee had consumed alcohol and ketamine before the attack.
As well as murder, the 20-yearold from Carrowdore Road in Newtownards is facing two counts of perverting the course of justice.
Opposing bail, Crown barrister Laura Ivers revealed that despite initially claiming not to have attacked Mr Miskelly, Magee later
told police he punched him twice, and kicked him to the side of his head once. He is also alleged to have told a friend at the scene that he thought he had broken his foot kicking Mr Miskelly.
Mr Miskelly, from Newtownards, died from a bleed on the brain caused by blunt force trauma to the head.
Prosecutor Laura Ivers said the fatal attack occurred outside a Bangor Road house after Mr Miskelly and his friend were asked to leave a party.
Both men were pushed out, and it is the Crown’s case that shortly afterwards, Magee attacked Mr Miskelly, including landing a kick to the side of his head that caused him to fall back with his head hitting the ground.
An ambulance was called and Magee carried out chest compressions on Mr Miskelly for around 10 minutes.
Ms Ivers said in the aftermath of the attack, Magee is also alleged to have told his friend that “you didn’t see anything”.
When Magee was arrested, he claimed he didn’t know what had happened to Mr Miskelly.
But during his fourth interview, Magee admitted punching Mr Miskelly twice and kicking him to the left side of his neck.