'What did you do, Nathan?' Chaos in court as teenager is charged with murdering his father's girlfriend - and her ex-husband and wounded daughter have to be held back
- Nathan Ward accused of stabbing father's girlfriend to death on Christmas Day
- The 19-year-old has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder
- Jayne Toal Reat, 43, allegedly died protecting her daughter Charlotte, 21
Chaos erupted in court today as a teenager was charged with stabbing his father's girlfriend to death on Christmas Day.
Nathan Ward was shouted at by angry friends and relatives as he stood in the dock at Craigavon Magistrates' Court in Lisburn, Co Antrim, accused of murdering Jayne Tool Reat, 43.
Ward, 19, was also charged with the attempted murder of Mrs Reat’s daughter Charlotte, 21, and his father Joseph Tweedie.
Charlotte had to be restrained in the court this morning as she shouted out: 'It's not fair!' and leapt towards Ward, who was flanked by armed security guards.
As the teenager was led down into the cells, Jayne's ex-husband Simon lunged at him bellowing: 'What the **** did you do, Nathan? What the **** did you do?'
A melee ensued as armed police intervened to stop Mr Reat, a former solider, from getting into the dock.
Pictured: Jayne Toal Reat's 21-year-old wounded daughter Charlotte leaving court today (left) and Nathan Ward (right)
Jayne Toal Reat, pictured, was stabbed to death on the early hours of Christmas morning
From the middle of the courtroom Charlotte Reat – who has suffered stab wounds to her neck, face and back – also lunged forward towards the dock as relatives to restrain her.
With a stitched wound over her right eye, Miss Reat who lost her mother on Monday, wept as she was held back and comforted by friends and relatives, telling her 'it's not worth it'.
Relatives tried to restrain her, telling Charlotte: 'Please, please, Charlotte, he is not worth it. Come on now please. He is not worth it'
An emotional Charlotte was called towards the dock, sobbing as she cried out: 'It's not fair, it's not fair. He's a f**king waste.'
As a round eight police officers moved into to try and quell the emotionally charged scenes, District Judge Watters asked the relatives to 'leave my courtroom'.
Ward had to be restrained by uniform police and court security staff.
Both the teenager's arms were in plaster cast, held upright at the elbows towards his face and wrapped in blue puffer material.
Dancer Charlotte Reat, 21, leaving the court today accompanied by father Simon Reat
Nathan's father Joseph Tweedie was in a relationship with Jayne Toal Reat, pictured together above
Pictured: Nathan Ward, detained in a police van, arrives at the courthouse in Co Antrim on Friday
When Ward arrived, he was told to stand by the clerk as he was formally accused of murdering nurse Jayne Toal Reat at the property he shared with Miss Toal Reat and his father Joseph Tweedie, who were in a relationship at the time.
Ward was further charged that on the same date he attempted to murder of Miss Toal Reat's daughter Charlotte, who celebrated her 21st birthday earlier this month, and his father Joseph Tweedie.
Forensics seen at the property in Mornington Cresent, Lisburn, where the family lived together
A detective inspector from the PSNI's Major Investigation Team told District Judge Rosemary Watters that she connect Ward to all three charges.
Legal aid was granted to barrister Joel Lindsay who told the court that no application was being made for bail at this stage.
District Judge Watters remanded Ward into custody to appear at Lisburn Magistrates' Court via video link on January 8, 2018.
Following the end of proceedings, Miss Reat walked out of Craigavon Courthouse and tripped on steps leading to the car park.
She had to be carried out by family relatives to a waiting car in the car park.
No details were given in court of the Christmas Day incident but Jayne Toal Reat sustained a number of fatal stab wounds during the attack.
Officers from the PSNI along with paramedics received a 999 call on Christmas morning about the brutal stabbing of the 43-year-old mum and dedicated nurse
During the attack Jayne Toal Reat's daughter Charlotte Reat sustained a number of knife wounds to her head, neck and face.
Ward's father Joseph Tweedie, who was also in the house, at the time received knife wounds. He was not present during today's brief two minute proceedings.
Ward has also been charged with attempting to murder his father Jason Tweedie and Charlotte Reat
Tragic: Hours before the court hearing, daughter Charlotte shared a picture of her and her mother on her 21st birthday, just weeks before the tragedy
Devastated: Dancer Charlotte Reat, 21, was also allegedly stabbed in the frenzied attack at a house party in Lisburn, Belfast
Forensic officers in white overalls and masks spent the Christmas at semi-detached property photographing the scene and swabbing the hallway and living room for blood and DNA samples.
Around 15 hours after the attack, 21-year-old 'dancing queen' Charlotte Reat posted on Facebook and described her mum as her 'hero'.
She penned: 'I just want to thank everyone for all the kind messages and posts. im not in the frame of mind to reply to anyone nor am i fit to be writing this status.
'Today will be a day i will never forget as my mum was murdered infront of my eyes and then later died in my arms. i can still feel her in my arms and hear her screams of pain and see the panic on her face.
'My mum died. I was stabbed twice in the head once in my face and once to the back of my neck.
'I am with family and have to identify my beautiful mothers body tomorrow which is not something i ever expected to be doing.
'Jayne Toal Reat I just wish i could trade places with you.
'You're my hero forever and always and ill never forget you and i promise i will get you justice! that scum wont get away with this if its the last thing i do!
Jayne Toal Reat worked as a nurse at Craigavon Area Hospital where her nursing colleagues are said to have been left stunned by her death, says a trade union official.
John Creaney, Unison trade union representative at the Co Armagh hospital, said Jayne's colleagues were 'in total shock'.
He spoke of the devastating moment news was broken to him about Jayne's tragic but brutal death on Christmas Day.
'I got the phone call at 11.30am on Christmas morning and I couldn't take it in. It felt as if someone had ripped my heart open,' said John.
'To think that other families were sitting together opening presents and this family was having to organise a funeral.'
Describing Jayne as a 'respected nurse and very professional at her job', Mr Creaney said she 'lived life to the full and was full of laughter and fun'.
Nathan Ward has been charged with the murder of Jayne Toal Reat who died on Christmas Day at her home in Lisburn after protecting her daughter from an alleged knife attack (pictured together)
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