Derry Court: Commital proceedings date set against four linked to murder of Katie Simpson

A date has been fixed for the commital proceedings against four people charged in connection with the murder of Katie Simpson.

Katie Simpson died on August 9 2020 a week after it appeared she had tried to commit suicide. 

The case of Jonathan Cresswell (35) of Briar Hill Gardens in Greysteel who faces one charge of the murder of Katie Simpson on August 9 2020 and a charge of rape against the same alleged victim on a date between August 2 and August 4 2020 was mentioned today at Derry Magistrate's Court.

Also mentioned were the cases of Rose De Montgomery-Wright (22) of Craigantlet Road in Newtownards who faces one charge of withholding information regarding the case on dates between August 9 and August 13 2020, Jill Robinson (41) of Blackfort Road in Omagh who also is charged with perverting the course of justice on August 3 2020 and that of a third woman who has been granted an interim anonymity order who faces four charges of withholding information between August 2 2020 and June 26 2021 and one charge of perverting the course of justice on August 3 2020.

A barrister for Creswell, Eoghan Devlin, told the court that a preliminary enquiry could not proceed at this stage due to the volume of papers in the case. 

He said that the papers consisted of over 1,800 pages and more time was needed to read them.

The barrister said that it was 'a complicated case' and it had taken the prosecution some time to prepare papers.

The legal representatives for the other accused agreed with that application.

District Judge Barney McElholm said he had no problem with the application for a lengthy adjournment. 

He adjourned the case until May 24 for a PE to take place.