Bangor murder victim Stephen Davidson

A 40-year-old man has been charged with the murder of 31-year-old Stephen Davidson in Bangor last week.

The man was arrested last Monday along with a 30-year-old woman.

A solicitor for Paul Stephen Bustard, of Avonlea Park, Bangor, said he denied the murder and had acted in self defence.

He was also charged with possession of and conspiracy to supply cocaine and threatening to destroy property.

Mr Bustard was remanded in custody to appear again at Newtownards Magistrates Court on Tuesday, February 19.

The man appeared before a special sitting of Newtownards’ Magistrates’ Court on Saturday afternoon.

On Thursday the 30-year-old woman was charged with a number of offences connected to the murder – namely conspiracy to do an act with intent to pervert the course of justice, assisting offenders, and impeding police.

She was also further charged with possessing a class A controlled drug and possessing the same with intent to supply.

Mr Davidson, was found dead in the living room of his house in the Ballyholme Road area of the town last Sunday at around 5pm.

He died in what police described as a “violent struggle”.

A 49-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman arrested by police investigating the murder were also released pending report.