The mobile phone of a man accused of murdering Damien Heagney was picked up on a cell site covering the vicinity of a reservoir where his remains were located, a court heard on Tuesday.

Mr. Heagney (47) was last seen alive at the end of December 2021. He was reported missing in July 2022 and the following month his dismembered remains were recovered from Cappagh reservoir in Co. Tyrone.

Stephen McCourt, from Riverview in Augher, is currently standing trial at Belfast Crown Court on a charge of murdering Mr. Heagney on a date unknown between December 29, 2021 and January 7, 2022.

The 41 year old has denied murder and his trial is now in its second week.

Today the jury heard evidence from a PSNI cell site expert who was tasked to analyse data regarding the mobile phones attributed to both the accused and deceased.

It's the Crown's case that Mr. Heagney was last seen alive at the end of December 2021 and the detective constable confirmed that after analysing cell site data, he could place the deceased's mobile at McGartland Terrace in Dromore on December 31, 2021.

The jury has already heard that McCourt lived in a flat at McGartland Terrace at the relevant time.

The witness also confirmed there was phone evidence which proved that Mr. Heagney and McCourt were in contact with each other on December 31 and that at 10.53am on New Year's Day they had a video call.

Crown barrister Gary McHugh KC then asked the witness about the "intermittent usage" of McCourt's mobile phone which was picked up on a cell site which covers the Pomeroy and Cappagh Reservoir areas at various times on January 2, 3, and 4, 2022.

When the expert was asked is it was "possible" that McCourt's mobile was "in the vicinity of the reservoir for short periods" during these time frames, he replied: "That is correct."

The policeman was then questioned by defence barrister Des Fahy KC and accepted the suggestion there were "limitations" with cell site analysis.

When Mr. Fahy asked if it was correct to say there was "no evidence that pinpoints" McCourt's phone at Cappagh reservoir, the witness agreed.

The defence barrister then asked that if his client's mobile connected to a cell site in the Pomeroy area, which covered the reservoir, "that could indicate he was in a vehicle driving through that location on his way somewhere else".

The witness again replied: "That is correct."

On Monday, a forensic expert who examined blood found in the Co. Tyrone home of the murder suspect was called to give evidence.

As part of a PSNI investigation, a forensic search was carried out at a property in McGartland Terrace in Dromore which at the time was occupied by McCourt.

As she was called to give evidence, the forensic expert said she examined 20 swabs taken from blood found in the first-floor flat.

The witness said that one of these swabs was from a smear of blood located on the frame of a bedroom door.

When asked by Crown barrister Gary McHugh KC if any DNA was located in that particular swab, she replied: "A profile matching that of Damien Heagney was obtained."

She also confirmed blood was found in various other areas of the flat including the windowsill in the bathroom, on a wall in the living room, on a doorframe in the hallway and on spinals of the staircase.

The witness said "profiles matching that of Mr. McCourt" were present in a majority of the swabs and that "Damien Heagney could not be excluded" as a contributor regarding one swab where a mixed profile was present.

The forensic expert confirmed she was given further items which underwent biological examination.

These included samples from the body parts belonging to Mr. Heagney which were retrieved from the reservoir.

The jury heard that upon examination, there was no forensic link between the human remains and McCourt.

During a cross-examination by defence barrister Des Fahy KC, the forensic expert was asked about the blood smear which was found to contain Mr. Heagney's DNA.

She was asked by Mr. Fahy: "Do you agree that when you found and examined the blood swab, that does not tell you anything about the date and time on which that blood was deposited or how it was deposited?"

The witness replied: "No it does not tell me when it was deposited."

Mr. Fahy then asked the forensic expert: "Do you agree that there may be a wholly innocent, non-criminal explanation for the deposit of that blood?"

She answered: "There may be."

Earlier in the trial it was heard that a "residual piece of metal" consistent with the blade of a knife was found embedded in the skull of Cookstown man Damien Heagney.

The trial continues.