A man has denied murdering Jordan Webb in Portavogie in County Down.

Mr Webb, who was 28, was found dead at a house on New Harbour Road in November last year. He had sustained multiple stab wounds.

Kai Johnston, 22, from Springfield Gardens in Portavogie, appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

Johnston replied "not guilty", when he was charged with murder on 3 November 2025.

Johnston, who was remanded back into custody, was also charged with perverting the course of justice.

He denied taking clothing from the body of Mr Webb and then removing these clothes along with the knife used to murder him from the scene.

He also denied charges of possessing a knife at Springfield Gardens in Portavogie on the same date and of assaulting a second male on the day before the murder.

When a charge of possessing the Class C drug Pregabalin on 3 November 2025 was put to Johnston, he replied "guilty".

After he was arraigned, a defence barrister said "there are a series of issues relating to intent and a number of psychiatric issues which are being investigated".

The barrister also revealed that an expert in this field has been instructed by the defence and a date for an examination of Johnston is expected to take place in January.

No date for a trial was set, with the judge saying he would review the case in four weeks.