A stonemason from Dromore in Armargh, Northern Ireland, who has been in custody since he appeared in court last year charged with the murders of two women five years apart and indecent assault charges, two involving a child, was back before the court (by video link) on Thursday (13 February).

The case was adjourned again to a Magistrates' Court sitting at Banbridge Court at Newry Courthouse on 6 March. The defendant was further remanded in custody at Maghaberry Prison.

Leslie Ross, born 16 July 1947, was remanded in custody after bail was refused by a district judge on 23 August 2013. He was back in court in September and was again remanded in custody.

Last time Leslie Ross did not speak in court, although his solicitor, Conleth Downey, told reporters outside the court afterwards that his client would be denying all the charges.

"In essence, Mr Ross has indicated that he categorically and vehemently denies all allegations of wrong-doing, that has been pointed out to the court this morning and at the earliest opportunity he will robustly defend all these matters," said the solicitor.

No application for bail was made, although the Mr Downey said they would be applying for bail at a later stage.

The police said a file surrounding the circumstances of a third woman's death a decade ago had been forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service.

Ross is charged on two counts of murder, indecent assault on a female, gross indecency with or towards a child and indecent assault on a female child. The murdered women are Margaret Weise and Michelle Bickerstaff. The court has ordered that the names of those involved in the indecency charges should be withheld.