Man in court charged with Coalisland murder, shootings in Newry and drug dealing

At Enniskillen Magistrates Court, 34-year-old Darius Sikorskas was charged with the murder of Gediminas Stauskas on 15 October this year.

The body of the 32-year-old Lithuanian man was found in a garage on the Moor Road, near Clonoe, Dungannon and reports at the time suggested he had been tortured before his death.

Sikorskas was also charged attempted murder, kidnapping and possessing a handgun connected to two shootings in September in Newry.

He is also accused of supplying cocaine and amphetamines.

Sikorskas spoke only to confirm he understood the allegations and that he was making no comment in them while a police officer said he believed he could connect the alleged killer to all of the charges.

No bail application was lodged with the court so Deputy District Judge Marshall remanded Sikorskas into custody to appear by video link at Dungannon Magistrates Court on 18 November.

Sikorskas’ alleged victim Stauskas had a violent past himself, having been jailed for five and a half years for the 2011 manslaughter of a fellow Lithuanian, Audrius Aukstuolis who was stabbed to death in what was effectively a duel.

Armed with a knife while Mr Aukstuolis had a screwdriver, Stauskas only struck one blow to his victims chest, stabbing him in the heart.

Mr Aukstuolis was a bodybuilder who had been charged with a very serious sexual assault and kidnapping and the dispute between the two men began after Stauskas’ girlfriend was appointed as Mr Aukstuolis’ interpreter in court.