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Norman Moffatt murder: Accused told acquaintance he stabbed pensioner | Norman Moffatt murder: Accused told acquaintance he stabbed pensioner |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A man accused of murdering a pensioner admitted to a woman that he stabbed him, a court has been told. | A man accused of murdering a pensioner admitted to a woman that he stabbed him, a court has been told. |
Norman Moffatt, 73, was attacked as he walked along Railway Road in Coleraine, County Londonderry, in January 2001. He died two months later. | Norman Moffatt, 73, was attacked as he walked along Railway Road in Coleraine, County Londonderry, in January 2001. He died two months later. |
James Alexander McCook, 43, with an address in Stockport, denies murdering the pensioner. | James Alexander McCook, 43, with an address in Stockport, denies murdering the pensioner. |
Martha Brown told the court that Mr McCook made the confession at a party in 2006. | Martha Brown told the court that Mr McCook made the confession at a party in 2006. |
Giving evidence at Antrim Crown Court on Tuesday, Ms Brown said she first met Mr McCook after social services sent him to stay at her mother's house when he was a teenager. | Giving evidence at Antrim Crown Court on Tuesday, Ms Brown said she first met Mr McCook after social services sent him to stay at her mother's house when he was a teenager. |
She told the court that in 2006, the defendant admitted stabbing Mr Moffatt. | |
Ms Brown said it happened at her cousin's house after a night out in which she bumped into Mr McCook at a pub. | Ms Brown said it happened at her cousin's house after a night out in which she bumped into Mr McCook at a pub. |
"He told me he had stabbed Norman Moffatt. I said I didn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. He had no expression on his face. It wasn't the same James that I knew. | |
"I was so shocked and hurt, I lifted a bottle and split him open with it." | "I was so shocked and hurt, I lifted a bottle and split him open with it." |
Under cross-examination, the jury heard that Ms Brown did not tell police about the alleged confession for a period of three months. | |
When asked about the delay in reporting the matter, the witness said that she did not want to be viewed as a police informer. | |
A defence barrister put it to Ms Brown: "There was Mr Moffatt left to die, for all anyone knew, on the streets of Coleraine. | |
"This was a notorious murder in the Coleraine and Potrrush area - and you just decided you don't like informers?" | |
She replied: "No. That's wrong. Would they have believed me?" | |
Ms Brown went on to tell the court: "I was scared." | |
After the stabbing, Mr Moffatt was taken to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine for emergency surgery but remained critically ill. | After the stabbing, Mr Moffatt was taken to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine for emergency surgery but remained critically ill. |
A few weeks later, he was transferred to the Ulster Hospital where he died. | A few weeks later, he was transferred to the Ulster Hospital where he died. |
Mr McCook is originally from Northern Ireland but was arrested in Stockport last year. | Mr McCook is originally from Northern Ireland but was arrested in Stockport last year. |
The case continues. | The case continues. |