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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Three men found guilty of Ian Ogle murder | Three men found guilty of Ian Ogle murder |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Ian Ogle died after being assaulted and stabbed beside his home in east Belfast in 2019 | Ian Ogle died after being assaulted and stabbed beside his home in east Belfast in 2019 |
| Three men have been found guilty of the murder of Ian Ogle in January 2019. | Three men have been found guilty of the murder of Ian Ogle in January 2019. |
| The father of two was 45 when he was beaten and stabbed 11 times, just yards from his home at Cluan Place in east Belfast. | The father of two was 45 when he was beaten and stabbed 11 times, just yards from his home at Cluan Place in east Belfast. |
| Walter Ervine, 43, of Litchfield Street in Belfast, Glenn Rainey, 38, of Ballyhalbert Caravan Park, and Robert Spiers, 41, of Millars Park in Belfast, were on trial in a non-jury court. | Walter Ervine, 43, of Litchfield Street in Belfast, Glenn Rainey, 38, of Ballyhalbert Caravan Park, and Robert Spiers, 41, of Millars Park in Belfast, were on trial in a non-jury court. |
| There were cheers in the public gallery when judge delivered his verdict on Friday afternoon. | There were cheers in the public gallery when judge delivered his verdict on Friday afternoon. |
| Walter Ervine, 43, Glenn Rainey, 38, and Robert Spiers, 41, were found guilty on Friday | Walter Ervine, 43, Glenn Rainey, 38, and Robert Spiers, 41, were found guilty on Friday |
| The three men have each been given a life sentence, with a tariff to be fixed early next year. | The three men have each been given a life sentence, with a tariff to be fixed early next year. |
| Two men had previously admitted killing Mr Ogle. | Two men had previously admitted killing Mr Ogle. |
| Jonathan Brown, 39, from Whinney Hill in Dundonald and 45-year-old Mark Sewell of Glenmount Drive in Newtownabbey, were handed life sentences earlier in 2024. | Jonathan Brown, 39, from Whinney Hill in Dundonald and 45-year-old Mark Sewell of Glenmount Drive in Newtownabbey, were handed life sentences earlier in 2024. |
| Speaking outside the court after the verdict, Mr Ogle's daughter Toni said the long wait for justice had been a "particularly difficult experience". | Speaking outside the court after the verdict, Mr Ogle's daughter Toni said the long wait for justice had been a "particularly difficult experience". |
| "We feel that the judicial system in Northern Ireland needs serious change, particularly when a crime of this seriousness has been committed. | "We feel that the judicial system in Northern Ireland needs serious change, particularly when a crime of this seriousness has been committed. |
| "After waiting for so long for a trial to take place it took a further 10 months for it to be completed. | "After waiting for so long for a trial to take place it took a further 10 months for it to be completed. |
| "In the meantime, those charged with murder and assisting offences lived in our community." | "In the meantime, those charged with murder and assisting offences lived in our community." |
| Mobile phone activity, attempts to leave Northern Ireland, and a murder weapon were all put together as circumstantial evidence against the men. | Mobile phone activity, attempts to leave Northern Ireland, and a murder weapon were all put together as circumstantial evidence against the men. |
| Summarising the case, the judge Mr Justice McFarland said that, according to a police camera that recorded the incident, it was a 30-second attack involving five men. | Summarising the case, the judge Mr Justice McFarland said that, according to a police camera that recorded the incident, it was a 30-second attack involving five men. |
| He also relayed evidence from a local pastor who prayed with Mr Ogle before the attack after the victim said "they were on their way". | He also relayed evidence from a local pastor who prayed with Mr Ogle before the attack after the victim said "they were on their way". |
| The pastor added that the men arrived with scarves over their faces and attacked with such ferocity they were like a "pack of hyenas". | The pastor added that the men arrived with scarves over their faces and attacked with such ferocity they were like a "pack of hyenas". |
| Mr Ogle's cause of death was noted as a stab wound to the chest. | Mr Ogle's cause of death was noted as a stab wound to the chest. |
| A pathologist recorded 37 bruises and a fractured skull from a fall. | A pathologist recorded 37 bruises and a fractured skull from a fall. |
| Delivering his verdict, Mr Justice McFarland said it was a "classic joint enterprise case" and not a case of a "crime gone wrong". | Delivering his verdict, Mr Justice McFarland said it was a "classic joint enterprise case" and not a case of a "crime gone wrong". |
| When considering the evidence, Mr Justice McFarland noted an ongoing feud in the area between two factions. | When considering the evidence, Mr Justice McFarland noted an ongoing feud in the area between two factions. |
| Murder weapons | Murder weapons |
| He pointed to a number of factors when making his verdict. | He pointed to a number of factors when making his verdict. |
| Of the murder weapons, which were found in the Connswater river, there was a baton and a 33cm (13in) knife with a serial number showing it was was bought as part of a knife set. | Of the murder weapons, which were found in the Connswater river, there was a baton and a 33cm (13in) knife with a serial number showing it was was bought as part of a knife set. |
| During a search of Spiers' home, a six-knife set of that brand was discovered but the 33cm knife was missing. | During a search of Spiers' home, a six-knife set of that brand was discovered but the 33cm knife was missing. |
| Mr Justice McFarland said given that, the evidence was supportive that he carried and used that knife in the murder of Ian Ogle. | Mr Justice McFarland said given that, the evidence was supportive that he carried and used that knife in the murder of Ian Ogle. |
| On the night of the murder, he noted a lack of phone calls between the five men for 43 minutes, in which time Mr Ogle was attacked. | On the night of the murder, he noted a lack of phone calls between the five men for 43 minutes, in which time Mr Ogle was attacked. |
| That, the judge said, could infer that they were either together or had a plan not to be in contact. | That, the judge said, could infer that they were either together or had a plan not to be in contact. |
| The phones were taken off the network at about the same time later that evening. | The phones were taken off the network at about the same time later that evening. |
| They were never recovered by police. | They were never recovered by police. |
| "The only sentence I can pass is a life imprisonment"," said the judge, adding that fixing of the tariff would take place in January. | "The only sentence I can pass is a life imprisonment"," said the judge, adding that fixing of the tariff would take place in January. |
| "Take them down," he said as many of those in the public gallery applauded. | "Take them down," he said as many of those in the public gallery applauded. |