FACE OF COURAGE
THE daughter of a nurse who died on Christmas Day faced down her mum’s alleged killer in court yesterday.
Charlotte Reat had to be restrained by relatives after she lunged at 19-year-old Nathan Ward during a short hearing.
Ward, 19, is accused of stabbing to death Charlotte’s mum Jayne Toal Reat, 43, as she stepped in to protect her daughter at a house party. He is also accused of attempting to murder Charlotte, 21, and his own father Joseph Tweedie, Ms Toal Reat’s partner.
Emergency services had been called to the property shortly after 6am on Christmas Day. Mr Tweedie was celebrating his 50th birthday at the house in Lisburn, near Belfast.
As Ward was being led away by guards from the dock at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court, Charlotte’s dad Simon Reat had to be restrained. Ward also had to be held back by police and security staff.
Both of Ward’s arms were in plaster cast held upright at the elbow near his face and wrapped in blue protective material. Charlotte, who turned 21 just weeks before the tragedy, was comforted by friends and relatives. She suffered stab wounds to her neck, face and back. Ward lived at the same address where the alleged incident took place with his dad and Jayne Toal Reat. District Judge Rosemary Watters remanded him in custody to next appear at Lisburn Court via a prison video link on January 8. As Miss Reat left the court she tripped and fell on steps and had to be carried to a waiting car.