Attempted murder case postponed until May

The trial of Belfast man Mark Haddock, who is accused of attacking and leaving for dead a former army boxing champ, has been adjourned until May 2.

The Belfast Crown Court trial was adjourned today until the victim, Trevor Gowdy, is pronounced fit enough by doctors to give evidence.

Mr Haddock, 36, from Mount Vernon in North Belfast denies attempting to murder the former soldier turned doorman who was brutally beaten and stabbed outside a north Belfast club in December 2002.

The case, which initially commenced in November last year, was halted as Mr Gowdy was deemed medically unfit to continue - while being cross-examined after he fled the court in tears.

It was believed that it could take up to a year for him to recover, but a new course of treatment could see him back in court in May.

Today, the prosecuting QC Charles Adair told trial judge Mr Justice Weatherup that in the event of the former soldier still being unfit, or if deemed fit and refusing to continue with the case, the Crown would make an application to proceed in his absence. However, it has been arranged that if and when, Mr Gowdy does return to court, he will face cross-examination from only one defence QC, Anthony Cinamond.

Last month, Mr Justice Weatherup agreed to abort the trial of Haddock's 36-year-old co-accused Darren Stewart Moore, also from Mount Vernon after initially refusing to acquit him of the attempted murder charge.

The Judge also cleared three others involved in the trial who were accused of conspiring to assault the victim.

Acquitting the trio last November the judge said there was no evidence to show that they had been party to, or had agreed to others carrying out an attack on Mr Gowdy outside his local bar in Ballyclare the night before he was brutally beaten and stabbed.

(EF/SP)