Three men charged with the murder of Chinese restaurateur Nelson Cheug

THREE men have been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a Chinese restaurant businessman last week.

Nelson Cheung was brutally killed last week after robbers forced his car off the road in a remote area of Co Antrim.

Ballymena Magistrates’ Court today heard the 65-year-old was stabbed 17 times in front of his wife Winnie Cheung.

The 60-year-old widow suffered a serious knife wound in the attack.

The couple ran a popular Chinese restaurant in Randalstown.

They were driving to their home in Ballymena last Thursday, January 9 around midnight when two cars forced them off the Caddy Road.

In dock today in front of District Judge Joe Rice for first remand hearing were:

* Portuguese welder Virgilio Augusto Fernando Correia, 33, from Grant Avenue, Randalstown;

* Engineer Gary William Thompson, 32, from Cunningham Way, Antrim;

* Unemployed Christopher David Menaul, 25, from Barra Street, Antrim.

All three were charged with the murder of Mr Cheung.

They were also charged with the attempted murder of Mrs Cheung and robbing her of a number of items, including a handbag, iPhone, iPad, £200 cash and bank cards, and the attempted robbery of her husband.

David Menaul was further charged with the burglary of a home on Magherlane Road near Randalstown.

Thompson’s estranged wife, care assistant Lisa Thompson, 32, of Cunningham Way, Antrim, also appeared in the dock beside him.

She was charged with handling stolen goods, namely the iPhone, and perverting the course of justice by allegedly providing a false account of her husband’s movements.

District Judge Rice remanded all four in custody to appear in Antrim court via videolink on February 10.