Man from Ardglass remanded in custody accused of murdering fisherman

By Paul Higgins

There were emotional scenes in court today (Sat) as a Co. Down man was remanded into custody accused of murder.

Friends and family of 20-year-old Jason Carr filled two rows of seats in the public gallery at Newtownards Magistrates Court, many of them crying as he was led to the cells, waving at them as he went.

Carr, from Castle Heights in Ardglass, spoke only to confirm that he understood the two charges against him. 

The Ardglass man is accused of attempted aggravated burglary at a property on Crew Hill Court in the fishing village with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on Stefan Zait and with Mr Zait's murder on 22 May this year. 

Mr Zait, a 45-year-old Romanian National who has been living and working on fishing vessels in Ardglass for six years, suffered serious head injuries in an assault on Tuesday morning and tragically died on Thursday.

He was attacked between 10:30 BST and 11:00 BST near the Downpatrick Road and Strangford Road in the village.

In court today (sat), Detective Sergeant Lewis testified that she believed she could connect Carr to each of the offences.

Defence barrister Sean Doherty told the court that while Carr denies both offences, he was not applying for bail “out of respect for the family of the deceased.”

Having heard it was the defence and prosecution application for a three week adjournment, District Judge Prytherch remanded Carr into custody to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates Court via videolink on 14 June.

As Carr was taken away to the cells, many of the women in the gallery were crying quietly while one man shouted out “love you mate.”