Man charged with murdering pensioner
A man appeared in court today charged with murdering a former prisoner more than 20 years ago.
Stanley Close (aged 65) who was found strangled in his home in the Willowfield area of east Belfast in August 1986, had served a jail term for shooting a man in the city in 1971.
David Mayberry Wallace (aged 50) originally from the North but with an address in Shaw Street, Bury, in England, appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s court charged with the pensioner’s murder.
Wallace, who spoke only to confirm he understood the charge, was remanded in custody until May 21 after a detective told the court he believed he could connect him to the killing.
He was arrested in the Manchester area on Tuesday and taken to the North for questioning after a joint operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Greater Manchester Police.
PSNI Det Sgt Andrew Sossich told the court police had yet to establish a motive for the killing and confirmed that the accused knew the deceased man.
It is understood that Mr Close had served a 10-year prison sentence for shooting dead a 30-year-old man in a bar in south Belfast in July 1971.
