A young man suspected of involvement in the murder of Christopher Meli three years ago had his bail conditions varied to allow him to work for a month.
Lee Smyth was granted bail after spending time on remand for several alleged offences arising from the murder of the 20-year-old, who was beaten to death on December 12 2015.
His body was found on a pathway in Twinbrook after he was attacked by a crowd of people - one of whom the Crown say was Smyth.
The 21-year old, who is currently living at a bail address outside Belfast which cannot be published, was placed under strict conditions as part of his bail - including obeying a 7pm to 7am curfew.
He was back in court today, where his legal team asked that the curfew be removed to allow him to take up seasonal employment.
Belfast Crown Court heard Smyth has been offered employment consisting of 12-hour shifts, from 10.15pm to 10.15am, from November 26 to December 24.
Smyth's solicitor Mark Austin asked that the curfew condition be completely removed, as "to have him curfewed after completing a 12-hour shift isn't necessary."
Mr Austin argued that as his client signs with police four times a week as part of his bail, monitoring Smyth "could be affectively carried out by these signing conditions".
A prosecutor told the court that the Crown objected to the curfew being removed, adding it was the Crown's view that Smyth was part of a group which attacked Mr Meli, and has been returned for trial with others.
Objecting to the curfew element of Smyth's bail being removed entirely, the prosecutor said that while the Crown "didn't want to stand in the way of someone securing employment," the application was set against a backdrop of bail breaches.
The prosecutor did, however, say that if the court was minded to consider the application, any variation "should be limited."
Mr Austin said that while it was accepted there have been "difficulties in the past", he questioned whether Smyth should work a 12-hour shift then be "expected to observe a curfew."
He pointed out that there have been no recent breaches of bail or further incidents linked to Smyth.
Mr Justice Colton said: "It seems to me it is right that the court should vary the times of the applicant's bail to allow him to pick up the offer of employment."
The judge said he would relax the times of curfew from 7pm to 9pm on the days when Smyth is working. On the days he is not working, the curfew remains from 7pm to 7am.
