Soldier F murder trial under way

On the bloody Sunday, the two men’s shots were “unnecessary and gift,” he was told to hear a former British soldier.

The soldier is accused of killing 22 -year -old James Wray and 26 -year -old William McKinney and five murder attempts in 1972.

Thirteen people were shot and killed by the Parachute Regiment when they opened fire for civil rights demonstrators in the Bogie region of Londonderry. Approximately 15 people were injured.

The non -jury hearing takes place in the Belfast Crown Court, where the soldier F is scanned from the public appearance with a black curtain around the dock.

The former parachutist, whose identity was protected by a court order, was pleased to be innocent.

He also rejects the number of five murder attempts.

Soldier F is also accused of trying to kill Patrick O’donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person.

Three of the alleged injured will testify during the hearing.

Prosecutor’s lawyer Lewis Malby KC said the shootings were “unfair” and none of the victims pose any threats.

“They were unarmed and shot as they escaped.”

Mr. Malby continued to claim that the soldiers who fired, including the soldier F, explained what happened later.

“What they did was to claim that the civilians they had targeted were armed.

“This was clearly wrong.”

Mr. Malby said the court Bloody Sunday was a “long -term and deep effect in Northern Ireland.

The hearing will be a narrow and special focus on the events that occurred in a courtyard in Glenfada Park region of Derry’s Bogside.

Soldier F, “Rossville Street from the west to the courtyard of a small group of soldiers,” he said.

This group of soldiers, “escaped civilians who fired self -loading rifles” opened fire, he added.

“And the losses I described, two deaths and four men were injured.”

The authority said that the civilians in the courtyard were unarmed and “did not pose a threat to the soldiers and could not believe that the soldiers did”.

In 1972, a series of maps and photographs that detail the settlement of the region were shown to the judge on the first morning of the hearing.

The families and friends of those who were killed on Sunday on Sunday went for a march to the royal justice courts in Belfast on Monday before the hearing was opened.

Those in front of March carried a great poster: “Towards justice”.

“Today, the unquestionable campaign for justice is a praise of the power of the families who perform this.”

Speaking on behalf of the McKinney family before entering the court, John McKinney said, “It is a very important day in our battle to secure justice for our loved ones”.

He said that families were fighting against “proportions” to come here.

“In short, we will occupy the courtroom with their knowledge, regardless of the ultimate conclusion that we are on the right side of history.” He said.

Northern Irish Veterans commissioner David Johnstone claimed that former soldiers were subjected to “wholesale demon” as a result of the old process in Northern Ireland.

Johnstone called an old process “fair and balanced”.

“The vast majority, and it is important, during the Op Banner (Banner operation), the majority of the approximately 300,000 armed forces serving in Northern Ireland, with dignity, restriction and professionalism, to protect communities and work to prevent civil war in this state,” he said.

“The stories of the soldiers killed by terrorists have received little interest in the media and that there is definitely the possibility of a public investigation of their death,” he added.

Speaking outside the court, Tuv leader Jim Allister said he had stopped on his way to London to “show support” for veterans.

The decision to blame the military F was taken in 2019 by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPS).

It was one of the 18 former soldiers reported to the PPS as a result of a police investigation, which followed the public opinion investigation on the bloody Sunday conducted by Lord Saville.

But he was the only person accused.

Two years later, the PPS fell the case after the hearing of the other two veterans accused of the 1972 murder at Belfast.

However, the prosecution continued in 2022 after a legal difficulty.

The basic evidence in the military F case is the statements given by other soldiers during the bloody market.

The judge of the hearing will decide at an early stage as they are acceptable.

• An old British military working with the army’s parachute procession in Northern Ireland during problems

• It cannot be named for a temporary court order that gives anonymity

• Soldier F, William McKinney and James Wray are tried for the murder of Bloody Sunday

• He is also accused of trying to kill Patrick O’donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person.