Man charged with murdering student
A man was today appearing in court charged with murdering a student who was beaten up outside a seaside nightclub in Portrush, Co Antrim.
Chris Whitson, aged 20, from north Belfast died without regaining consciousness after the attack at Kelly’s in Portrush, Co Antrim, 10 days ago.
A 23-year-old man accused of his murder is expected to appear at North Antrim Magistrates Court in Coleraine today.
A police spokesman said detectives were reviewing grievous bodily harm with intent charges against another two men still in custody.
The charges came after a priest spoke of the grief of the victim’s family.
Father Sean Emerson said Mr Whitson’s parents, brother and sister had mounted a bedside vigil in Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital as he fought for his life.
“They wanted to spend precious time with Chris, to be with him as much as they could as they knew the likelihood of him getting better was slim,” Fr Emerson said.
“It was heartbreaking for them letting Chris go but they were prepared for it in as much as they could be.”
Mr Whitson, from Strathmore Park in the north of the city, died on Monday night from head injuries he received in the attack.
His death led to the adjournment of a bail application by two men charged with causing him grievous bodily harm.
Defence counsel for David Gaston, 20, from Eglish Road and Gary Davison, a 28-year-old van driver from Carnstron Road, both in Broughshane, Co Antrim, had sought the adjournment following what they described as Mr Whitson’s “tragic death”.
