Northern Ireland

Man jailed for gangland-style assassination seeking to overturn conviction

Jamie Smith is serving a minimum 21-year-sentence for his role in the killing of Duncan `Dougie' Morrison
Jamie Smith is serving a minimum 21-year-sentence for his role in the killing of Duncan `Dougie' Morrison Jamie Smith is serving a minimum 21-year-sentence for his role in the killing of Duncan `Dougie' Morrison

A MAN jailed for a gangland-style assassination in Co Down is attempting to widen out a legal bid to overturn his conviction.

Jamie Smith is serving a minimum 21-year-sentence for his role in the killing of Duncan `Dougie' Morrison and attempting to kill Stephen Ritchie in May 2011.

His case has been referred back to the Court of Appeal based on a change in the law on joint enterprise.

Defence lawyers are now also seeking to challenge forensic and identification evidence which featured in the prosecution.

The two victims were blasted with a sawn-off shotgun and a 9mm pistol at a flat in Bangor.

Smith (44) and co-accused Peter Greer (47) were both found guilty of murder, attempted murder and two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Two gunmen believed to have carried out the shooting were never identified, and no motive was established.

Despite a previous failed challenge to his conviction, Smith's case has been sent back to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission - an independent body set up to examine potential miscarriages of justice. It is the first referral in Northern Ireland since a landmark change in the law on joint enterprise cases where two or more defendants are charged with the same crime.

In 2016, the Supreme Court held that the law had been wrongly applied for more than 30 years, with the bar set too low for establishing the required intent of any secondary co-accused.

Smith's legal team have raised other potential grounds they want to advance as part of the challenge, including issues about the extent of DNA and cartridge discharge residue.

At the Court of Appeal on Thursday, barrister Michael Halleron requested more time to prepare a final position paper.

Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan granted an adjournment until November 24.