Stab murder accused refused bail

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6922807.stm

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A 19-year-old man accused of stabbing a father-of-four to death in a Newry housing estate has been refused bail.

Michael Jason Smith, from Main Avenue, Newry, is accused of murdering taxi driver Stefan Loughran on 8 February.

Mr Loughran suffered a knife wound to his stomach and one to his back which pierced his heart and lung.

The high court was told he was stabbed after walking away from a confrontation with Mr Smith. But Mr Smith's barrister said the accused acted in self-defence.

He said Mr Loughran approached him "in a confrontational manner" and his client armed himself with the knife "to scare Mr Loughran off", adding it was never his intention to use it.

The crown allege that Mr Loughran, who was in his early 40s, and his father confronted Mr Smith after he had punched the victim's nine-year-old son.

Mr Loughran was rushed to Daisy Hill Hospital and, despite being conscious on arrival, was pronounced dead at 1945 BST.