Charges against two pensioners detained in connection with an alleyway murder in west Belfast have been withdrawn, a court heard yesterday.
The 68-year-old man and 70-year-old woman were due to appear before magistrates in the city as part of the investigation into the killing of Edward Gibson.
Police had accused the pair of assisting an offender and withholding information linked to the 28-year-old father of one's murder in October last year.
But at Belfast Magistrates' Court it was disclosed that the case against them will not be proceeding at this stage.
Defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna confirmed the charges against his clients were to be withdrawn on a without prejudice basis.
Police are instead expected to submit a report to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
It will be for the PPS to assess the strength of any evidence before deciding if the case is to be resurrected at a later stage.
Mr Gibson was shot in the stomach and thigh at Clonfaddan Crescent in the Divis area of the city. He died later in hospital.
The killing, said to have been part of a long-running dispute, was allegedly connected to a fight earlier the same day.
One man is due to stand trial charged with the murder.
Malachy Goodman (58) of Rockmore Road in Belfast, is also accused of possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
