News

Charges brought against five others linked to Christopher Meli killing

Further charges have been brought against five people over the death of Christopher Meli in December 2015
Further charges have been brought against five people over the death of Christopher Meli in December 2015 Further charges have been brought against five people over the death of Christopher Meli in December 2015

FURTHER charges have been brought against five people arising from an incident in a west Belfast man where a man was killed.

Caolan Laverty (18) and Lee Smyth and Stephen McCann, both 20, who are accused of the murder of Christopher Meli (20) have had additional charges of affray added to the indictment.

In addition to the offence of affray Laverty, from Broom Park and Smyth, from Colinbrook Gardens, both in Belfast, have also been charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to two other males, namely Ryan Morris and Steven Woods while Smyth has also been accused of causing actual bodily harm to Mr Morris.

Lisburn Magistrates Court has previously heard the Public Prosecution Service were giving consideration in relation to files against eight further defendants and today five had charges laid against them.

The four men and a woman are accused of causing an affray with three of the men also being charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

They include Shannon McIwaine (19), from Glenalina Crescent and Daniel McManus (18), from Springbank Drive, who are both charged with affray.

Aaron Stilges (20), from Laurelvale in Crumlin is charged with affray and also actual bodily harm and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm.

Daniel McGrath (19), from Thornhill Crescent, has been charged with two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm while Gary Samuel Lewis (19), from the Antrim Road, charged has been charged with actual bodily harm and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm.

McCann, from Bernagh Glen, Laverty, from Broom Park and Lee Smyth, from Colinbrook Gardens, all Belfast, are jointly accused of the murder of Christopher Meli on 12 December 2015.

The body of the father-of-one was discovered on a pathway in the Glasvey Close area of Twinbrook after he had been beaten to death.

Detectives believe up to 20 people were involved in a number of violent incidents that resulted in his death.

The case against all eight defendants had been listed for a Preliminary Enquiry today which would have seen the file returned to the Crown Court but defence lawyers asked for that to be adjourned so they could consider the papers.

District Judge Mark Hamill adjourned the case for two weeks.