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Sailor in court over submarine shootings

By: KentOnline reporter multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 13:26, 13 April 2011

Royal Navy submarine HMS Astute, on board which Lt Cdr Ian Molyneux, from Dartford, was shot dead

A Kent sailor charged with murdering a colleague on a Royal Navy sub was remanded in custody today.

Able Seaman Ryan Donovan, from Dartford, is accused of shooting a lieutenant commander with an SA80 last Friday.

He's also charged with attempting to kill three other crew members.

The 22-year-old appeared at Winchester Crown Court this afternoon.

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Judge Keith Cutler adjourned the case for a plea and case management hearing on June 10.

Hampshire Police were called to the sub around lunchtime after shots were fired on board.

The sub had docked in Southampton for a five-day goodwill visit.

A group of Southampton city councillors were on board at the time and a party of school children were waiting to board for a tour.

Lieutenant commander Molyneux, 36, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, died in the incident.

Donovan is charged with his murder and the attempted murders of petty officer Christopher Brown, 36, chief petty officer David McCoy, 37, and lieutenant commander Christopher Hodge, 45.

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Donovan lived in Hillside Road, which is a mix of detached houses and semis.

One resident with a teenage son said on Monday: “We have been hearing about it on the news this morning.

"My son wants to go into the Navy, so it is a little worrying.”

Donovan changed his name by deed poll to Reggie Moondogg in 2009.

Giving an interview to a website about his name change, he was described as unemployed and then living in Woolwich, south London.

He said he picked Moondogg from a book of dog’s names and always liked the name Reggie.

He added: “My mum is getting used to it now and I quite like it. It has a certain ring to it.”

Nick Hawkins, chief prosecuter of CPS Wessex said: “I have been working closely with Hampshire Constabulary and now have authorised them to charge Ryan Samuel Donovan with Ian Molyneux’s murder and with the attempted murder of Christopher Brown, David McCoy, and Christopher Hodge.

“Having reviewed the evidence, I am satisfied that there is sufficient to charge him, and that it is in the public interest to do so.”

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