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The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal from the Special Criminal Court, upholding the appellant's conviction for murder and criminal damage arising from a meticulously planned assassination involving multiple vehicles and individuals. The appellant argued that the case against him had shifted from direct participation as the gunman to common design, resulting in an alleged unfairness and insufficient evidence for conviction. The Court of Appeal found that the prosecution had always advanced common design as part of its case, and that the circumstantial and identification evidence, including the appellant's central role in vehicle movements and attempted destruction of forensic evidence, supported the inference of active participation in the murder plot. The original convictions were affirmed, with the Court rejecting all grounds of appeal presented.
murder conviction – common design – circumstantial evidence – identification evidence – Special Criminal Court – Court of Appeal – vehicle movements – destruction of forensic evidence – CCTV footage – criminal damage – joint enterprise – Criminal Justice Act 2006 – cross-examination – mens rea – ground of appeal – prosecution case
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