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Marion Millican: Fred McClenaghan guilty of murder | Marion Millican: Fred McClenaghan guilty of murder |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 52-year-old County Londonderry man has been found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend. | A 52-year-old County Londonderry man has been found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend. |
Fred McClenaghan, of Broad Street, Magherafelt, was convicted of killing Marion Millican at the laundrette where she worked in Portstewart. | Fred McClenaghan, of Broad Street, Magherafelt, was convicted of killing Marion Millican at the laundrette where she worked in Portstewart. |
It was the second time McClenaghan has been convicted of murdering the mother-of four in March 2011. | It was the second time McClenaghan has been convicted of murdering the mother-of four in March 2011. |
His original conviction was quashed on a technicality and a retrial was ordered. | His original conviction was quashed on a technicality and a retrial was ordered. |
McClenaghan had claimed he intended to take his own life in front of her but that his antique double-barrelled shotgun went off accidentally during a struggle. | McClenaghan had claimed he intended to take his own life in front of her but that his antique double-barrelled shotgun went off accidentally during a struggle. |
The trial heard their relationship was characterised by violence. | The trial heard their relationship was characterised by violence. |
On one occasion, McClenaghan knocked her unconscious and on another he tried to strangle her, the court was told. | On one occasion, McClenaghan knocked her unconscious and on another he tried to strangle her, the court was told. |
Mrs Millican's friend and colleague, Pamela Henry, who was at the laundrette when McClenaghan arrived, described him as "a madman who meant business". | Mrs Millican's friend and colleague, Pamela Henry, who was at the laundrette when McClenaghan arrived, described him as "a madman who meant business". |
Mrs Millican had begun a relationship with McClenaghan after splitting from her husband in September 2009. | |
However, she ended the new relationship in December 2010, and was in the process of a reconciliation with her husband, just months before she was shot dead. | |
McClenaghan killed her on 11 March 2011, after confronting her as she sat in work having lunch with a friend. | |
Timeline of events | |
11 March 2011: Mrs Millican is shot dead in the Portstewart laundrette where she worked. | |
3 July 2012: McClenaghan found guilty at Antrim Crown Court of murdering Mrs Millican. | |
21 September 2012: McClenaghan is sentenced to 16 years in jail. The victim's daughter, Suzanne Davis, describes the sentence as "very lenient, especially for such a violent crime". | |
29 January 2014: McClenaghan's conviction for murder is quashed. The accused is told he faces a retrial. | |
16 September 2014: Retrial gets under way as jury is sworn in. Prosecution rejects McClenaghan's guilty plea to manslaughter and pursues the charge of murder. | |
29 September 2014: Judge Mr Justice Treacy dismisses jury in the retrial because some jurors left the precinct of the court at lunchtime to get chips. A new jury is sworn in and the retrial begins again. | |
5 November 2014: Jury finds McClenaghan guilty of murder |