07/10/2005
Man remanded in custody charged with musician murder
A 27-year-old man has appeared in court on Friday charged with the murder of a local musician in Londonderry last week.
Alan Luukas, of Riverview Court Apartments, John Street, in the city, is accused of killing James Gilchrist, 62, whose body was found in the River Foyle on Wednesday 28 September.
At first detectives thought his death was not suspicious, however further investigation revealed that he had been murdered.
Mr Luukas is also accused of making threats to kill a woman.
When charged with murder while in police custody, he replied: "Totally innocent of the offence - you have made a grave mistake here."
He also denied the charge of making threats to kill.
Mr Gilchrist, a blues musician, was last seen leaving the Oval Bar on Duke Street in the Waterside just hours before he was murdered
The 62-year-old had been at a meeting of a local motorcycle club.
Mr Luukas was remanded in custody and is due to appear before the court again via-videolink on October 20.
(MB/GB)
Alan Luukas, of Riverview Court Apartments, John Street, in the city, is accused of killing James Gilchrist, 62, whose body was found in the River Foyle on Wednesday 28 September.
At first detectives thought his death was not suspicious, however further investigation revealed that he had been murdered.
Mr Luukas is also accused of making threats to kill a woman.
When charged with murder while in police custody, he replied: "Totally innocent of the offence - you have made a grave mistake here."
He also denied the charge of making threats to kill.
Mr Gilchrist, a blues musician, was last seen leaving the Oval Bar on Duke Street in the Waterside just hours before he was murdered
The 62-year-old had been at a meeting of a local motorcycle club.
Mr Luukas was remanded in custody and is due to appear before the court again via-videolink on October 20.
(MB/GB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.