MR Samuel Malcolm, the father of Gavin Malcolm (15), told Belfast Crown Court yesterday how he had identified the body of his son.
The boy's body was found outside a block of flats in Lurgan, Co Armagh early on April 8th, 1994.
Gavin had been battered unconscious before being thrown from the top floor of the four storey block at Spelga Park.
Mr Malcolm told the jury he had driven round the area in the early hours that morning after Gavin had failed to return home.
Then, at 7 a.m., he heard a radio report that a boy's body had been found at Mourneview Estate a few hours earlier.
"I was gripped by fear," he added. He described driving to the scene, which he found cordoned off by police. After telling them who I was, I was brought over to just below the flats where I was shown a body which I recognised as my son, Gavin".
Mr Malcolm also identified the blood stained clothes produced in court as those worn by his son.
As he left the witness box Mr Justice McCollum expressed the sympathy of the court to him and his family on their grievous loss.
The body was first discovered by Mr James McCullough, who found him lying on the grass as he left the flats about 2.45 a.m. He said he had shaken and shouted at the boy, and then held his wrist, but could not feel a pulse.
Denying Gavin Malcolm's murder are three Lurgan men, Mr Keith Edward Brown (23), Ashleigh Crescent; Mr William James Turkington (18), Monroe, Avenue; and a former soldier, Mr Jason Chittick (22), of Pines Park.
A fourth man, Thomas Hagan, who was sentenced to indefinite detention after confessing to the murder, is to be the chief prosecution witness in the trial.
A school friend of the dead boy described how he and Gavin had spent the evening of April 7th drinking in a derelict house near this home.
The 18 year old said he had bought vodka and wine at Gavin's request, and that Gavin had most of the drink, although he had thrown some of the wine away "When we went to a shop for cigarettes Gavin was noticeably drunk and his words were slurred.
"But after we stayed at the house for another couple of hours he had started to sober up and I thought he was capable of getting home, he added.
He told the jury he had walked art of the way with Gavin before going to his own home, and that Gavin's father had come to the house about half an hour later looking for him.
Evidence in the trial continues today.