Ismay murder trial judge hears final submissions
FINAL submissions have been made in the non-jury trial of a west Belfast man accused of murdering a prison officer — 15 months after the hearing commenced.
The Crown first opened its case against Twinbrook man Christopher Robinson in October 2018 and it is expected to conclude next week.
The 49-year-old from Aspen Walk has been charged with murdering Adrian Ismay in March 2016. The 52-year-old prison officer was travelling to work from his east Belfast home on March 4 when a bomb exploded under his van.
The father-of-three initially survived the blast, but died 11 days later in hospital.
During the lengthy trial, the Crown made the case that Robinson picked up a red Citroen C3 from his brother on March 4 and that this car transported the bomb from west into east Belfast.
As well as denying involvement in the murder of Mr Ismay, Robinson also denied possessing explosives with intent to endanger life and property for the purpose of terrorism.
Earlier this week, Crown barrister David McDowell QC made closing submissions in the Diplock-style trial.
He told Mr Justice McAlinden that when all the evidence was examined, it “knits together” to support the Crown case of Robinson’s involvement in the fatal incident.
This included the movements of the Citroen over the night of March 3, 2016 and into the early hours of the following morning, and the movements of his own Skoda in the relevant timeframe.
Mr McDowell said the evidence “fits like a glove”, while other evidence from Robinson’s Facebook account — such as his interest in the welfare of Irish prisoners and his anti-police stance — was an indication of his support for “violent Irish republicanism”.
The Crown’s assertion was rejected by defence barrister Arthur Harvey QC, who insisted the prosecution needed to prove a prosecution case “beyond reasonable doubt”, which he claimed the Crown had failed to do.
Citing the Crown’s evidence against his client as “circumstantial”, Mr Harvey said: “There was never any evidence whatsoever in this case which established a connection between that vehicle and this defendant on the evening of March 3, 2016 or the morning of March 4, 2016.”
Telling Mr Justice McAlinden there was “no evidence whatsoever” of Robinson’s involvement in an enterprise to murder Mr Ismay, Mr Harvey added the two men used to volunteer together with St John’s Ambulance and had a “common interest in providing first aid”.
Mr Harvey also accepted the Crown’s assertion that his client had sought stories online about the incident, but added: “there was nothing in it” as the story was “both newsworthy and shocking”, and did not, therefore, indicate his client’s involvement.
Mr Justice McAlinden said there was “one further issue that has to be dealt with” and adjourned the hearing until next Tuesday.