A trial concerning the August 2019 murder of Malcolm McKeown entered its final stages on Tuesday after it emerged no further evidence is being called.
The 54-year old was shot and killed as he sat in the driver’s seat of his silver BMW which was parked at the rear of a service station on Main Street in Waringstown.
Four men were charged with, and denied, murdering Mr McKeown on August 19, 2019 and possessing firearms and ammunition with intent on the same date and a trial commenced at Belfast Crown Court last month.
The four accused are 29-year old Jake O’Brien from Rectory Road in Lurgan, Andrew Thomas Kenneth Martin (29) from Bridge Street in Banbridge, Stevie Lee Watson (35) from Princeton Avenue in Lurgan and 34-year old Simon Smyth from Hazelgrove Avenue in Lurgan.
However, after the Crown opened its case Martin pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting murder and was handed a life sentence by Mr Justice Fowler.
He continues to deny the firearms offence.
After the Crown concluded its case on Monday, barristers acting on behalf of Smyth and Watson lodged applications that their clients had ‘no case to answer.’
Mr Justice Fowler gave his ruling on the defence applications on Tuesday and rejected both of them.
Following this, it emerged that all four co-accused would not be giving any evidence.
The four barristers representing the four defendants told Mr Justice Fowler “we call no evidence” - meaning the cases for both the Crown and defence have now ended.
The non-jury trial was then adjourned until June 27 when closing submissions will be made.
Whilst Smyth and Watson were released on continuing bail, O’Brien and Martin were returned back onto custody.