A MAN has appeared in court charged with the murder of pregnant mother-of-two Sarah Montgomery in Co Down.
Zak Hughes, 28, from Ardglen Place in Belfast, was also charged with child destruction during a brief appearance at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court today.
Dressed in a grey tracksuit, he stood in the dock and nodded when asked if he understood the charges.
A PSNI detective chief inspector told the court he could connect Hughes to the offences.
No facts of the case were laid out and there was no application for bail.
The date of the offences given on court papers was June 27.
District Judge Conor Heaney remanded Hughes in custody until July 30.
Ms Montgomery, 27, died at her home in Donaghadee.
Floral tributes have been left outside her house in Elmfield Walk.
A 42-year-old woman, who was arrested in Belfast on suspicion of assisting an offender, was released unconditionally on Tuesday.
The death of Ms Montgomery has led to renewed focus on the rate of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.
She was the 27th adult woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.
TRIBUTES PAID
Dozens of tributes have been paid to Ms Montgomery since her death.
Donaghadee Primary School described their former pupil as “the most supportive and loving mum to her two wonderful daughters”.
The school said she was “a much-loved past pupil” and offered its “heartfelt thoughts, prayers and sincere condolences to Sarah’s family at this very sad time”.
A number of MLAs at Stormont also expressed their condolences.
UNIMAGINABLE TRAGEDY
Answering questions at the Northern Ireland Assembly, Northern Ireland, First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said: “I can’t even imagine what her family are going through.
“A young mummy expecting her next child, her whole life ahead of her and taken from her family in the most devastating way.
“Sarah Montgomery had her whole life ahead of her, a beautiful woman, two children and one on the way.
“That tragedy is just unimaginable for so many people.
