DNA expert from America employed by defence teams

A DNA expert from Ohio in America has been employed by several of the defence teams in the Kevin McDaid manslaughter trial which is due to begin in Belfast today (Tuesday).
PACEMAKER BELFAST    29/04/2014
A defendant  leaves court as  the Murder  trial for  Kevin McDaid in Coleraine  was adjourned Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker PressPACEMAKER BELFAST    29/04/2014
A defendant  leaves court as  the Murder  trial for  Kevin McDaid in Coleraine  was adjourned Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press
PACEMAKER BELFAST 29/04/2014 A defendant leaves court as the Murder trial for Kevin McDaid in Coleraine was adjourned Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press

Last week, the trial was delayed due to late disclosure material relating to one of the defendants, John Thompson.

The court heard that the case, which does not have a jury, is expected to last up to six weeks, and that 123 witnesses have alreaady been agreed.

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The defendants are: David Craig Cochrane (23) and David James John Cochrane (52) both with addresses in Windyhall Park in Coleraine; Aaron Beech (28) of John Street in Ballymena; Frank Simpson Daly (53) of Oakland Walk, Coleraine; Christopher McDowell (38) from Castle Walk Mews in Castlerock; John McGrath (55) of Knock Road, Dervock; Paul Andrew Newman (49) of Knock Road, Ballymoney; John Thompson (34), Knocknougher Road, Macosquin; James McAfee (32) from Cloneen Drive in Ballymoney; Ivan Beattie McDowell (47) of Taggart Mews, Ballymoney; and Philip Kane (39) of Danes Hill Road, and Rodney Gardner (45) from Knocklynn Grange, both in Coleraine.

In addition, Frank Daly is charged with assaulting Mr McDaid’s widow Evelyn and assaulting Leona Whitaker on the same date.

John Thompson is accused of assaulting Peter Neill and damaging the window of a PSNI van.

Aaron Beech is charged with affray and assaulting Sonia O’Neill on June 29 2010.

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Johnathon Stirling is charged with threatening to kill and making threats to harm Marion O’Neill on the same date.

The two Coleraine men who are not accused of manslaughter and attempted murder are Jonathan Norman Stirling (25), of Windyhall Park, who is charged with making threats to kill and threats to harm to Marion O’Neill, and John Freeman (24) from Tullans Park, who is charged with making threats to kill Sonia O’Neill and Marion O’Neill on the same date and of intimidating and assaulting Sonia O’Neill, who is acting as a crown witness.

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