Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann appeared in court on Friday as he insisted on his innocence. Mr Heaurmann, 59, was held without bail as prosecutors had sought, citing his recent searches for “sadistic materials, child pornography, images of the victims and their relatives.” Mr Heuermann is accused of murdering Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello — all sex workers in their 20s who disappeared in the Long Island area before their bodies were found during a separate missing person investigation in 2010. The architect, a married father of two who lives in Massapequa Park and works in Manhattan, reportedly broke down in tears during his court appearance. “We just got appointed on this case. There’s not much I can tell you folks at this point in time,” his attorney, Michael Brown told reporters, according to NBC. “I will say to you folks that it’s extremely circumstantial in nature. In terms of speaking to my client, the only thing I can tell you that he did say, as he was in tears, was ‘I didn’t do this.’”

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Final respects have been paid at the funerals for two teenage best friends who died in a car crash on the way to their school’s prom in Ireland. Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16, were killed outside the town of Clones in Co. Monaghan, when their vehicle left the N54 and crashed into a tree. The pair had been travelling with three others who were injured in the crash. It came hours after they were pictured in their prom dresses that they were set to wear that night for the Debs Ball. A funeral service for Dlava was held at the Clonskeagh Mosque and Culture Centre in Dublin on Thursday and she will be laid to rest in Newcastle Muslim Cemetery. Father John Chester said the deaths have "shocked and saddened the nation". There was a pause for silence at Sacred Heart Chapel in Clones, Co Monaghan ahead of the funeral for Kiea for those who were injured in the same crash. Representatives for Irish President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar attended the funeral, as well as the Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher Ian Ellis. Father Chester added that the hands of both girls were touching at the scene. "The hands of the two girls touching as though they knew they were off to heaven together," he said. "No father should have to witness such a terrible scene." Half an hour after Dlva’s service, a funeral mass was held for Kiea McCann at the Sacred Heart Chapel in Clones. She will be laid to rest in Mount St Oliver’s Cemetery. Both girls’ obituaries detailed how they came from large families who were heartbroken following the crash. Sheikh Hussein Halawa said: “I would like to my offer sincere condolences to the father, mother and all family members.” The prayer service for Dvala heard the fatal crash in which she died “shook the entire Muslim community and the entire people of Ireland”. Meanwhile, scores of motorbikes revved at the Sacred Heart Chapel in Clones ahead of the arrival of the hearse carrying the remains of Kiea, a motor racing fan. Her family and loved ones walked behind the hearse topped with floral tributes. Many of the mourners wore light blue T-shirts bearing a photograph of the teenager wearing her red formal dress. Students from Largy College lined the steps as her coffin was brought into the church. Father Frankie McCann told the Irish Independent how celebrations had unfolded at the family home hours before the tragedy. “There was great excitement here in the house before they went out,” he said. “We had food and champagne and balloons, and it was going to be a great night.” Kiea had been pictured in a red dress in front of a celebratory balloons display while Dlava was seen softly smiling in a blue gown before heading out. The images were shared by family members left shocked by the double tragedy. “I love you so so much Kiea,” heartbroken sister Michaela wrote next to several pictures from the evening. Irish police are still investigating the crash and closed the road for several hours while forensic teams carried out searches. The force thanked those who stopped by the scene to try and help. At the time of writing, another young woman, 18, is in a critical but stable condition at Cavan General Hospital, after the crash. A 60-year-old man remains in a critical condition in Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital and an 18-year-old man suffered non life-threatening injuries. Visiting Largy College on Tuesday, Social Protection Minister and local TD Heather Humphreys said that there was “a cloud over the town of Clones”. “It is every parent’s worst nightmare because nobody expects to get that phone call,” she said. Read More Tragic last photos of best teenage friends killed in car crash on way to school prom Weather warnings issued as heavy wind and rain expected Man Booker Prize long list features 4 Irish writers, 4 debut novelists Tragic last photos of best teenage friends killed in car crash on way to school prom Mother of man murdered in mistaken identity killing says dealing with ‘lazy’ Met Police was ‘horrendous’ Mother who stabbed her newborn baby to death in bathroom dies in prison

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