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Bloody Sunday murder accused Soldier F to stand trial in September

Chris Page
BBC News Ireland Correspondent
BBC Black and white photo of James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right)BBC
Soldier F is accused of murdering James Wray (left) and William McKinney on Bloody Sunday

A judge has indicated that a former paratrooper charged with two murders and five attempted murders on Bloody Sunday will stand trial in September.

The former serviceman, known as Soldier F, is accused of - and denies - the murders of James Wray and William McKinney.

They were among 13 people who were shot dead by the Army at a civil rights demonstration in Londonderry in 1972.

Soldier F is also charged with five counts of attempted murder.

Pacemaker Members of William McKinney's family and other Bloody Sunday relatives attended the hearing on TuesdayPacemaker
Members of William McKinney's family and other Bloody Sunday relatives attended the hearing on Tuesday

At a short hearing at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday morning, prosecution and defence lawyers said they expected to be ready to start the trial in September.

The judge said he would list the trial to begin during that month, with an exact date to be decided at a future hearing.

The case will come before the court again for a review in four weeks' time.