Man charged over the murder of two former partners in Northern Ireland

A man is due in court later today accused of murdering two former partners in Northern Ireland.

Leslie Ross, 66, a stonemason from Dromore, Co Down, will appear before a district judge in Armagh city.

He is charged with the murders of Michelle Bickerstaff, 47 and Margaret Weise, 50.

Ross has been in custody since his arrest at his home in the town on Tuesday when police removed a number of items from the house.

Mrs Weise died in Dromore in August 2007 and Mrs Bickerstaff, a mother of four, and a near neighbour of the accused, died in April last year.

Police are also investigating the death of a third woman found dead in Dromore in December 2002. Lily McKee, 52, a former beauty queen, died in December 2002.

A file on that inquiry is being submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, according to a statement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Apart from the two murders charges, Ross has also been accused of a number of other serious charges. Details are expected to be announced in court later today.

PA