Teenagers 'jeered at dying man'

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Four teenagers accused in connection with the murder of a west Belfast greengrocer ran off jeering as he lay dying, the High Court was told.

Harry Holland, 65, was stabbed with a screwdriver after confronting a gang who'd allegedly tried to steal his van.

A 17-year-old who is charged with affray, possessing an offensive weapon and attempted wounding in connection with the murder had applied for bail.

But the judge refused his request to go to a family Christening.

At a bail hearing in the High Court on Thursday, a Crown lawyer claimed the greengrocer was surrounded by two boys and girls after trying to stop thieves stealing his van near his Norfolk Drive home in September.

'Surrounded'

He said a neighbour confronted the four young people who were "aggressive and very nasty" and that the accused teenager allegedly brandished a knife.

"It was then that (the witness) saw the other female co-accused leap onto Mr Holland's back," he said.

"It was at this stage that Mr Holland was fatally wounded. After that (the witness) kept lashing out at his assailants until they all made off shouting and jeering as they went."

Defence counsel Jon Paul Shields said his client, remanded in a young offenders' centre, wanted four hours for a family Christening.

A 16-year-old has been charged with Mr Holland's murder.