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12/09/2012
Pizza Delivery Murder Case Collapses
A man charged with the murder of a pizza delivery man more than four years ago has walked free after prosecution witnesses would not come to court.
Thaddeus McAllister, 20, from Derry, was due to face trial charged with murdering Emmet Shiels, 22, at Bligh's Lane in the city in June 2008.
The accused, who now has an address in London, also faced a charge of attempting to murder somebody else, possessing a weapon and three charges of assault.
But yesterday, prosecution barrister Terence Mooney QC said that no evidence would be offered in the case, as "a great number" of witnesses would not come to court "for various reasons".
He said: "By last Friday it became apparent to me that a tipping point had been reached. In these regretful circumstances I offer no evidence in this case against the accused."
The INLA has denied claims that it was involved in the murder.
It is understood Mr Shiels confronted a group of masked men shortly before being shot.
His baby son was just days old when the shooting took his life.
Detective Chief Inspector Frankie Taylor said at the time that Mr Shiels had not participated in any violence.
Gary Meenan (20) from Bishop Street in Derry was jailed for eight years for Mr Shiels' manslaughter in November 2010, while Nadine Kelly, also 20, from Celandine Court in the city, was given a one-year suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice by giving Meenan a false alibi.
(NE)
Thaddeus McAllister, 20, from Derry, was due to face trial charged with murdering Emmet Shiels, 22, at Bligh's Lane in the city in June 2008.
The accused, who now has an address in London, also faced a charge of attempting to murder somebody else, possessing a weapon and three charges of assault.
But yesterday, prosecution barrister Terence Mooney QC said that no evidence would be offered in the case, as "a great number" of witnesses would not come to court "for various reasons".
He said: "By last Friday it became apparent to me that a tipping point had been reached. In these regretful circumstances I offer no evidence in this case against the accused."
The INLA has denied claims that it was involved in the murder.
It is understood Mr Shiels confronted a group of masked men shortly before being shot.
His baby son was just days old when the shooting took his life.
Detective Chief Inspector Frankie Taylor said at the time that Mr Shiels had not participated in any violence.
Gary Meenan (20) from Bishop Street in Derry was jailed for eight years for Mr Shiels' manslaughter in November 2010, while Nadine Kelly, also 20, from Celandine Court in the city, was given a one-year suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice by giving Meenan a false alibi.
(NE)
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