26/09/2008

Stone Case Ends

Judgement has been reserved after the final day of evidence in the trial of loyalist killer Michael Stone.

Mr Justice Deeney said he would return his verdict on the three-week trial "as soon as I can" after he heard closing speeches from defence and prosecution lawyers.

Stone, 53, denies attempting to murder Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams at Stormont in November 2006 when his 'assault' on the building was caught on TV and shown across the world.

Stone also faces 12 other charges.

Making his closing speech prosecution Council, Gary McCrudden argued that Stone had built various bombs, "equipped himself with deadly weapons" and launched the attack "as part of a pre-planned mission with the intention of murdering" the Sinn Fein leadership.

Defence QC Orlando Pownall counter-claimed it was "preposterous" that Stone was intent on killing.

He said Stone's claims in the press and during police interview that he was going to "slit their throats" was nothing but "boastful bravado - bigging it up" and that "in any event, the prosecution have not proved that the steps that he had taken were anything more than preparatory".

Mr Justice Deeney told Belfast Crown Court that he wanted to consider all the evidence again and re-examine the various exhibits.

(BMcC)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

15 January 2019
Loyalist Killer Michael Stone Must Spend Longer In Prison
Notorious loyalist killer Michael Stone is to remain in prison until 2024 before he can be considered eligible for release, according to a new High Court ruling. Judges held that the Department of Justice (DoJ) had wrongly determined that the bomber would now be eligible to seek freedom from jail.
08 December 2008
Loyalist Killer Gets 16 Years For Stormont Attack
Convicted loyalist killer, Michael Stone - who was found guilty of attempted murder last month - has today been jailed for 16 years. He was convicted for trying to murder Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams at Stormont. Mr Justice Deeney delivered his judgment during November in a non-jury case heard at Belfast Crown Court.
13 May 2008
Stone's Cold Calculations Revealed
Convicted killer, Michael Stone - who previously served a lengthy jail sentence for his murderous one-man gun and bomb attack on a republican funeral at Milltown Cemetery - has confessed to planning further death and destruction in his stymied attack on the NI Assembly. "I would have lobbed several nail bombs to cause confusion.
16 February 2007
Michael Stone remanded over Stormont attack
Loyalist killer Michael Stone has been remanded in custody following an appearance at Belfast Magistrates Court earlier today. Stone, 51, is charged with trying to murder Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness following his attempt to attack Stormont buildings in east Belfast in November last year.
11 April 2019
Quarry Water A 'Stone Cold Killer'
A new campaign has been launched warning of the dangers of swimming on disused quarries. As the Easter holidays and summer period approaches the likelihood of good weather brings additional risks, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has said.