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Accomplice evidence leads to guilty verdict in trial for directing murder
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Special Criminal Court delivers guilty verdict on murder charge where accused was alleged to have ordered and directed killing, notwithstanding that key prosecution witnesses were found to be "accomplices" of the accused.
Kearns P (judgment of the court): Criminal law – Special Criminal Court (trial heard by three judges and no jury) – murder trial - victim of mistaken identity - accused alleged to have ordered and directed murder at meeting in his house - preliminary issue of disclosure - refusal to postpone trial notwithstanding volume of disclosure - change of legal team - injury to accused - prosecution evidence - CCTV evidence - evidence on behalf of defence - credibility of witnesses - association between witnesses and accused - intimidation of witnesses by or on behalf of accused - accomplice evidence - all the principal suspects and those suspected of having information were closely associated and involved with each other at time of murder - degree of complicity between witnesses and accused - warning of court "to itself" of dangers of acting on accomplice evidence – independent supportive evidence of a corroborative nature – accused found to be guilty.
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