A High Court judge in Belfast expressed concern yesterday at the length of time a murder accused has been in custody awaiting trial.
Lord Justice Nicholson was told that Mr Andrew Robinson, who is charged with murdering his partner, Ms Julie Ann Osborne (22), has been in custody since January 1st, 2001.
Ms Osborne, mother of the couple's daughter now aged 2½, was found stabbed to death in the home she shared with Mr Robinson at Shankill Terrace, Belfast, on December 27th, 2000. Mr Robinson (23), who was refused bail last May, renewed his application on the grounds of undue delay.
Crown counsel Mr David Hopley said the case was at an advanced stage and a pre-trial hearing had been fixed for February 21st. Mr Robinson's lawyer, Mr Charles McCreanor, described the delay as "excessive and unreasonable" and amounted to a breach of his client's human rights.
Mr McCreanor said a trial was unlikely before the summer, which would mean that Mr Robinson would be in custody for three times the permitted maximum in England which was 112 days.
A detective called by the judge to explain the delay said the pathologist's report was not received until last month. The resumed hearing was provisionally fixed for next Monday.