Man is guilty of murder in restaurant stabbing

A Belfast man was convicted of murder yesterday after stabbing a man in a city-centre McDonald's restaurant in an argument over…

A Belfast man was convicted of murder yesterday after stabbing a man in a city-centre McDonald's restaurant in an argument over a faulty door.

His lawyers intend to appeal.

Anthony Hagans showed no emotion when the Crown Court jury of eight women and three men announced their majority verdict of 10 to one following almost five hours' deliberation over two days.

Hagans, who was remanded back into custody, now faces a "tarrif hearing" which will determine how much of his mandatory life sentence he must serve before the authorities consider he can apply to be released from prison.

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This is the second time that Hagans has been tried for the murder of Mr David Finn (32) on February 23rd last year.

In May this year a jury failed to reach a verdict at his orginal trial, during which his 17-year-old nephew, Kevin Hagans, from Falls Court, Belfast, pleaded guilty to assault.

Hagans, who gave himself up to police the following day, claimed he was acting in self-defence when he fought with Mr Finn in the McDonald's restaurant.

While he admitted fighting, he told police he did not remember stabbing anyone.

He admitted he had been using a small penknife to clean his nails, but was "nearly sure" he had put it back in his pocket by that stage.

However, the prosecution, who said Hagans had thrown the "final fatal blow" had stabbed Mr Finn with another weapon which he had then disposed of.

The court had heard that Hagans, his nephew and Mr Finn first got into a heated argument over a faulty door at the Donegall Place fast food restaurant.