A Belfast court was told yesterday two brothers accused of murdering a Cookstown, Co Tyrone man said afterwards it had happened because the victim had fought back while being given a beating.
The claim was made at the Crown Court during cross-examination of Mr Rodger Crooks, who has denied the murder of Mr George Scott (31), who was killed in his Killymoon Street flat in Cookstown on September 22nd, 1996.
Mr Crooks (24) of McKinney Park and brothers Mr Gary McGuckin (31) and Mr Mark McGuckin (36), both of Milburn Close, all Cookstown, have pleaded not guilty to murder Two other men, Robert Stewart (39) and George Watterson (31), both of Stewart Avenue, also Cookstown, have pleaded guilty to Mr Scott's manslaughter.