McIntyre's Trial: Closing Arguments in McKee Murder Case

0:00On March 25th, a Belfast Crown Court trial over the murder of journalist Lyra McKee has heard closing arguments from prosecutors. The 29-year-old was shot in the head during riots in Derry's Cregan area on April 18, 2019. Nine men face charges, including three accused of murder on a joint enterprise basis. 58-year-old Paul McIntyre, 25-year-old Jordan. 37-year-old Peter Kavanaugh, the others are charged with rioting and throwing petrol bombs. Prosecutors say McIntyre played a leading role that night, identified by his clothing, tattoo, and actions like carrying petrol bombs, and driving a truck set a light during the disorder. They claim he walked the gunman to the scene, crouched behind him, and cleaned up afterward. Earlier petrol bomb caches from April 16th were allegedly reused. Last month, the judge rejected defense bids to dismiss the cases for lack of evidence. Now, lawyers for all nine defendants say they won't call witnesses or give evidence themselves.

1:04One of the original 10 charged, 58-year-old William Elliott died in England last February. In recent submissions, prosecutors highlighted phone records like McIntyre is going into airplane mode before the violence and reactivating after the shooting, plus his ties to co-accus Christopher Gillan. They pointed to footage linking the men to dissident and Republican activities, and the days leading up. The trial continues as the defense wraps up, with a verdict still ahead in this long-awaited case tied to that tragic night in Dairy.