Meli murder suspect loses release bid over bail terms violations

A 21-YEAR-OLD man suspected of involvement in the murder of Christopher Meli has been refused bail.

Lee Smyth, who Belfast Crown Court heard has notched up a “plethora of over a dozen breaches of bail”, made a fresh application to be released from custody yesterday, but it was refused by Mr Justice Colton.

Smyth, with a bail address outside Belfast that for legal reasons cannot be published, is one of a number of people charged with murdering Mr Meli.

The 20-year-old was beaten to death in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast in December 2015.

The accused was initially granted bail with a number of strict conditions.

Two weeks ago, his legal team made a successful application to have his curfew varied to allow him to take up seasonal employment throughout December.

The application was granted on November 22. However, less than an hour after leaving court, Smyth was arrested in Boots on suspicion of stealing gift sets.

He was back in court the following day, where Mr Justice Colton revoked his bail and sent him to Maghaberry Prison.

At yesterday’s renewed application for bail — where Smyth appeared via video-link — his solicitor, Mark Austin, said the two weeks his client had spent in Maghaberry had provided a “sobering lesson”.

Mr Austin noted that as no trial date has yet been fixed, Smyth was “in limbo”. He added: “Because there is no trial in the immediate future, Mr Smyth should be allowed the option to renew a bail application.”

Opposing the defendant’s release, a Crown prosecutor said that the last time he left court, Smyth was arrested shortly after the curfew variation was granted.

The prosecutor also told the court there had been “a plethora of over a dozen breaches” of bail. Mr Justice Colton noted that after Smyth’s last appearance in court “within half an hour of that he was arrested. “In the circumstances, I was satisfied there was a prima facie case and I revoked his bail,” he added.

“Nothing has changed since I revoked bail two weeks ago.

“I therefore refuse the application.” From top, Christopher Meli and Lee Smyth