McIlveen Murder trial to be moved
Ballymena Times
10 Sept 2008
The trial of six people accused of murdering Ballymena teenager Michael McIlveen is to be moved because the courtroom is too small.
Defence teams for each of the accused and prosecution lawyers said a fair trial was not possible because Coleraine court was not big enough.
The judge said the trial will move to Antrim on Monday, but said he was unhappy at the timing of the complaint.
Day 1
A jury has been selected in the Michael McIveen murder trial. The selection took place at the Crown Court in Coleraine on Monday.
Legal sources predict that the case could be one of the longest trials of recent years with estimates for length ranging from 12 to no less than sixteen weeks.
Ballymena teenager Michael McIlveen died on May 8, 2006 as the result of head injuries he received some time on the night of Saturday, May 6 or early in the morning of May 7.
Prosecuting QC John Orr, in a short review of the case for the jury, told Antrim Crown Court, sitting in Coleraine, that the event which led to the teenager’s death began at the cinema and leisure centre at Larne Link.
Mr Orr said on one side was a large group, including the accused, and on the other, Michael and two friends.
“They came from two sides of the divide — the three youths were Catholic — the larger group were Protestants.”
The lawyer added that CCTV captured a conversation between the youths, before Michael and his friends were chased through nearby housing, finally ending up in the car park at the rear of Camerons’ Shop in Broughshane Street.
By the car park was a ‘dog-legged shaped’ alleyway where Michael and one of his friends were attacked, while his other friend managed to escape into the rear of a house.
Mr Orr said that although afterwards Michael and his friend returned home, the schoolboy was later taken to Antrim Area Hospital by ambulance where he died the following day from brain injuries.
The court was packed with prosecution and defence teams and there is widespread speculation that there may well be further submissions for the trial to be moved to a different location.
Six of the seven accused in the case are charged with the murder of Michael McIlveen while all are charged with making an affray and three are charged with the criminal damage of a gate.
The accused are - Paul Henson (18), Condiere Avenue, Ballymena, who is charged with affray and criminal damage.
Christopher McLeister (18), Knock Crescent, Ballymena, who is charged with murder, affray and criminal damage.
Chris Kerr (22) of Carnduff Drive, Ballymena, who is charged with murder and affray.
Jeff Lewis (19), Rossdale, Ballymena, who is charged with murder, affray and criminal damage.
Mervyn Moon, (20) of Douglas Terrace, Ballymena, who is charged with murder and affray.
Aaron Wallace (20), of Moat Road, Ballymena, who is charged with murder and affray.
And, a youth who is charged with murder, affray and criminal damage but cannot be named for legal reasons.
Day two
While on day one of the murder trial, last Monday, September 8, a jury was selected, the second day was taken up with a legal argument and changes to the jury’s make-up.
Two members of the original 12 were excused and two others sworn in, although the alteration failed to change Monday’s ratio of eight women and four men.
The case is being heard before Mr Justice Treacy, sitting at Coleraine Crown Court.
