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Holland murder charges dropped | Holland murder charges dropped |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Murder charges have been dropped against two teenagers accused of killing west Belfast greengrocer Harry Holland. | Murder charges have been dropped against two teenagers accused of killing west Belfast greengrocer Harry Holland. |
Patrick Joseph Crossan, 18, from Willowbank Gardens and a 17-year-old girl, who cannot be identified due to her age, admitted a charge of affray. | Patrick Joseph Crossan, 18, from Willowbank Gardens and a 17-year-old girl, who cannot be identified due to her age, admitted a charge of affray. |
Crossan also admitted having a knife and the girl admitted common assault. | |
Mr Holland, 65, was stabbed with a screwdriver near his home in Norfolk Drive in September 2007. | |
The girl was released on continuing bail, while Crossan did not apply for bail. | The girl was released on continuing bail, while Crossan did not apply for bail. |
A prosecution lawyer said that, having reviewed the evidence, it would have been "insufficient" to proceed with the murder charge. | |
The judge adjourned passing sentence until the end of June when pre-sentence probation reports and other medical, psychological and victim impact reports have been compiled. | |
On Tuesday, 18-year-old Sean Patrick McKee, from Ballymurphy Road in west Belfast, pleaded guilty to Mr Holland's murder. | |
Speaking outside the court, one of Mr Holland's daughters said she welcomed the guilty plea, but said it was motivated by "self-service rather than remorse". | |
"The Public Prosecution Service should remember that they have a moral and civic responsibility to the victims of crime and to do their absolute utmost to ensure justice is done," said Sarah Holland. | |
"However, what passes for justice is a horse-trading situation, done by handshakes among colleagues." | |
She also said the parents of the three teenagers should "examine their own consciences". |