Man in court in Belfast accused of Dublin stab murder

A man has appeared in court in Belfast charged with the murder of a 34-year-old man in Dublin City centre at the weekend.

Ryan Ndede, 23, of Boroimhe Birches in Dublin, is charged with the murder of Quham Babatunde.

Mr Babutunde died after he was stabbed close to Grafton Street in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A detective constable said she was aware of the facts of the case and could connect the accused to the charge.

Setting out the facts of the case a prosecution lawyer described the incident as a "group melee" in the early hours of Saturday morning.

He told the court the accused was identified on CCTV approaching the deceased with a knife concealed under a puffer jacket.

He said Mr Babutunde was stabbed four times, including once through the heart, which proved fatal.

The prosecution lawyer said Garda used CCTV to track the defendant through the streets to a rented apartment in Dublin 8, where a knife was recovered.

He said the knife was still undergoing forensic examination.

The court heard Mr Ndede arrived by bus in Belfast on Sunday afternoon where he later boarded a ferry to Birkenhead.

The prosecution lawyer said the ferry was turned around and the accused was arrested in Belfast.

A defence solicitor representing the accused said the court did not have jurisdiction in this case.

He also told the court the description of the accused did not match alleged identification evidence against him.

The detective said there were "several different descriptions" of the alleged perpetrator.

District Judge Alan White said that he did hold jurisdiction in the case.

No bail application was made and Mr Ndede was remanded into custody.

He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court via video link on 21 March.

An application for legal aid was granted.