Carrickfergus murder: Michael Campbell given life sentence for murder

Image source, Pacemaker

Image caption, Roy Reynolds, 54, was found dead in a reservoir near Carrickfergus last year

A County Antrim man has been given a life sentence for the murder of a man whose body was found partially submerged in a reservoir.

Michael Campbell, 34, of East Way in Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, had previously denied the murder of 54-year-old Roy Reynolds last March.

When the murder charge was put to him on Thursday he replied: "Guilty".

A previous hearing heard that Mr Reynolds was subjected to a "barbaric and horrific" murder.

Roy Reynolds' body was found in North Woodburn Reservoir near Carrickfergus.

It was previously heard that police were contacted by a member of the public who had witnessed a man dragging a naked body from Campbell's flat.

It was then put in the boot of a car.

Co-accused Robert Fulton, 69, of Brickhill Park, Newtownabbey has previously pleaded guilty to a charge of assisting in the disposal of a body.

Image source, Pacemaker

Image caption, Flowers being laid at the North Woodburn Reservoir near Carrickfergus in memory of Mr Reynolds

A High Court judge previously heard that Mr Reynolds sustained multiple fractures and stab wounds at Campbell's Rathcoole home.

Fulton told police that when he arrived at the flat, he witnessed Campbell push his foot down on the dead man's head while it made a "cracking" sound.

Fulton was accused of bringing his car to the murder scene and drilling holes in a breeze block for an attempt to weigh down and submerge the victim's body.

A search of Campbell's property found blood-covered walls and clear signs of a disturbance, the court was told.

A blood-stained knife and a screwdriver were also located, along with an electric hedge trimmer on the sofa.

A tariff hearing for Campbell is due to take place next February.