20/02/2007

County Antrim man in Canary Islands murder trial

A County Antrim man has today gone on trial in the Canary Islands charged with the murder of a prostitute in 2005.

Vincent Traynor, 20, from Loughguile has been in custody for the past two years after the body of 23-year-old Nigerian woman Stella Omeregie's body was found on Cochino beach in Gran Canaria, on July 11 2005.

Mr Traynor has continuously denied murdering the woman, however he did admit to assaulting her after an argument broke out between the pair.

It is understood that the woman was murdered on the day that Mr Traynor and his friends arrived on the island for a holiday.

The accused told the court that after arriving, he and his friends had spent the day drinking and later that night, he was approached by the victim.

During today's hearing, the court heard that an argument ensued over the fee Mr Traynor was to pay the woman. This led to a fight when Mr Traynor admitted that he struck the victim.

Some time later the woman's body was discovered on the beach, however Mr Traynor denies carrying out the murder.

The case continues.

(EF/KMcA)

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