SOMEcharges against a so-called loyalist supergrass accused of a catalogue of murders and paramilitary crime are to be dropped.
Gary Haggarty is longer to be prosecuted for three alleged offences, understood to relate to possessing explosives and firearms, his lawyers said.
His legal team are also set to challenge the "propriety" of prosecuting a man they say worked as a state agent for some of the remaining 209 counts against him.
Belfast Magistrates' Court was told today that a hearing to decide if the suspected Ulster Volunteer Force commander-turned police informer has a case to answer is scheduled for November.
Haggarty, 44, has been waiting to discover if he will stand trial since signing an agreement to become an assisting offender under the terms of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) back in 2010.
The north Belfast man was charged with a record 212 charges covering a 16-year period between 1991 and 2007.
The prosecution case against him runs to 12,000 pages, with his alleged offences including:
:: Five murders, 31 conspiracy to murder and six attempted murders.
:: Four kidnappings, six false imprisonment and five hijacking.
:: Twelve possessing explosives with intent to endanger life and 47 counts of having a firearm with intent.
:: Eighteen charges of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
:: Three counts of arson, conspiracy to defraud and concealing the proceeds of criminal conduct.
:: Two charges each of directing terrorism and belonging to a proscribed organisation.
:: Seven counts of possessing money or property for the purposes of terrorism.
Haggarty, whose address is listed as c/o the Police Service of Northern Ireland, is believed to be living at a secret location in England.
