Belfast murder appeal adjourned

THERE was a new development yesterday in a murder appeal by five men serving life imprisonment for the sectarian killing of Ms…

THERE was a new development yesterday in a murder appeal by five men serving life imprisonment for the sectarian killing of Ms Ann Marie Smith (26), in Bet fast four years ago.

Ms Smith, a Catholic, from Armagh, was found with her throat cut in February, 1992, after she had been lured from Hillfoot Glentoran Supporters Club and strangled.

A defence lawyer, Mr Charles Adair QC, told the Court of Appeal in Belfast that he had just come into possession of information which would require to be investigated.

He said the information, which bad been disclosed by the Crown just before the court sat, would have a substantial bearing on the appeal.

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Mr Adair did not disclose the nature of the information but said it had ramifications for matters already dealt with during the appeal.

"In those circumstances I would ask for an adjournment," he said.

The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Brian Hutton, conferred briefly with Lord Justice MacDermott and Mr Justice Campbell before agreeing to the case being adjourned.

Sir Brian said the court would sit later in the week to fix a date for the resumption of the appeal.

Four of the appellants are from Belfast Samuel Cooke (29), of Cregagh Street, Stephen Manners (33), of Woodstock House; David Magee (26), of Pearl Street; and Philip Murray (30), of Kingswood Street.

The other appellant is Graham Bingham (25), from Carneen Drive, Rathcoole, Co Antrim.