A St. David's man was charged with murdering homeless local resident Maxwell (Buckshot) Brangman yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, another man was bailed in connection with the investigation into the murder of Mr. Brangman and his friend Frederick Gilbert.

Roger Eugene Lightbourne Sr., 40, of Tommy Fox Road, St. David's, is accused of murdering Mr. Brangman on September 21. He appeared before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner flanked by several Police officers.

Clad in a striped shirt and chinos, he kept his sunglasses on throughout the brief hearing and clutched a pink washcloth in his hand.

Family members of 57-year-old Mr. Brangman attended the court hearing, sitting in the public gallery just feet away from the defendant.

Lightbourne, who is represented by lawyer Elizabeth Christopher, was not required to enter a plea as the matter must be dealt with at the Supreme Court. Senior Crown Counsel Carrington Mahoney asked that bail be refused, and told Mr. Warner: "We're in the middle of the investigation."

Mr. Brangman's body was found inside a small concrete hut near the Black Horse Tavern at Burcher's Point, St. David's, around 5.30 a.m on Sunday September 21.

Firefighters had been called to extinguish a blaze at the premises, where the victim is thought to have been living.

Police revealed last week that Mr. Brangman died from a number of wounds to his head and body, before his body was set fire to.

No-one had been charged by press time in connection with the death of Mr. Brangman's friend Frederick (Freddy) Gilbert, 53, who was also homeless.

His body was found floating in the water at nearby Great Bay at around 8.45 a.m. on Monday September 22.

An autopsy revealed that he died from multiple wounds before his body was immersed in water.

The Royal Gazette understands that both men had been stabbed.

Detectives said last week that they believe the men were killed at the same time, and were treating the case as a double murder.

This newspaper understands from sources close to the case that a younger man who was being questioned was granted bail yesterday afternoon and has not been charged.

That came after a behind-closed-doors hearing at the Supreme Court in relation to the suspect's ongoing detention.

The Police revealed on Sunday that they took two men into custody in connection with their investigation on Saturday evening.