Accomplice evidence leads to guilty verdict in trial for directing murder

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.