Chef charged with ex-partner’s murder banned from Tyrone

A MAN accused of killing his missing ex-partner has been banned from entering Co Tyrone.

A High Court judge imposed the order on John Patrick Miller as he was granted bail yesterday on a charge of murdering Charlotte Murray five years ago.

Ms Murray, who was originally from Omagh but had been living in Moy, was 34 when reported missing by her family in 2013.

Her body has never been found.

It is alleged that 46-year-old chef Miller, from Redford Park in Dungannon, murdered her between October 31 and November 1 the previous year.

They had been in a relationship and worked together before she vanished, an earlier hearing was told.

Traces of Ms Murray’s blood were said to have been found at a house they shared.

Detectives charged Miller with murder following cell-site analysis of mobile phone texts.

Defence barrister Dessie Hutton argued that his client faced

John Patrick Miller and missing Charlotte Murray

a “very circumstantial case”. But, opposing bail amid concerns Miller may flee, prosecution counsel contended that he had been arranging to travel to France the day he was arrested.

During cross-examination, an investigating detective confirmed, however, that police had no concrete evidence of any such plans.

Mr Hutton told the court Miller was first arrested in 2013. He knew he was a person of interest in the case, but he remained in

Northern Ireland. The accused, who previously visited a friend in France, was only checking for any potential future cheap flights, the court heard.

Granting bail, Sir Paul Girvan directed the defendant to surrender any passports and put up a £10,000 cash surety. He also banned him from Tyrone.

Seeking the no-go zone, the Crown lawyer said: “There are still searches for a body ongoing, and witnesses are based in Tyrone.”