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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lawyer admits murder incitement | Lawyer admits murder incitement |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A solicitor from Londonderry has pleaded guilty to inciting loyalist paramilitaries to murder. | A solicitor from Londonderry has pleaded guilty to inciting loyalist paramilitaries to murder. |
| Manmohan "Johnny" Sandhu, who appeared at Belfast Crown Court, also pleaded guilty to four charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice. | |
| The charges against Sandhu, 41, arose out of covert police recordings of his interviews with paramilitary suspects at Antrim police station. | The charges against Sandhu, 41, arose out of covert police recordings of his interviews with paramilitary suspects at Antrim police station. |
| Sandhu, of Colby Avenue, was remanded in custody until next Wednesday. | Sandhu, of Colby Avenue, was remanded in custody until next Wednesday. |
| The charges against Sandhu arose from the attempted murder of taxi driver Jonathan Hillier in Newtownards in August 2005 and the murders of Jameson Lockhart and Andrew Cully. | The charges against Sandhu arose from the attempted murder of taxi driver Jonathan Hillier in Newtownards in August 2005 and the murders of Jameson Lockhart and Andrew Cully. |
| An earlier court hearing was told that Sandhu, who practises out of offices in Limavady, incited members of the UVF to murder Newtownards taxi driver Jonathan Hillier as he recovered in hospital in August 2005 from a failed attempt on his life. | |
| 'Taken out' | 'Taken out' |
| The prosecution said Sandhu phoned an unknown person from the police station and indicated that Mr Hillier "should be taken out". | The prosecution said Sandhu phoned an unknown person from the police station and indicated that Mr Hillier "should be taken out". |
| The lawyer also attempted to pervert the course of justice surrounding the investigation into the shooting. | The lawyer also attempted to pervert the course of justice surrounding the investigation into the shooting. |
| In another secret recording Sandhu was overheard coaching Christopher Dinsmore, who was accused of murdering Jameson Lockhart. | In another secret recording Sandhu was overheard coaching Christopher Dinsmore, who was accused of murdering Jameson Lockhart. |
| It is a conviction that should not be underestimated. It is noteworthy for a number of reasons, not least as it demonstrates that no-one is or should be above the law Det Chief Supt Derek Williamson | It is a conviction that should not be underestimated. It is noteworthy for a number of reasons, not least as it demonstrates that no-one is or should be above the law Det Chief Supt Derek Williamson |
| Mr Lockhart was shot as he sat in a lorry on the Lower Newtownards Road in Belfast in July 2005 during a power struggle between the UVF and LVF. | Mr Lockhart was shot as he sat in a lorry on the Lower Newtownards Road in Belfast in July 2005 during a power struggle between the UVF and LVF. |
| Sandhu told his client how to explain how gloves with cartridge discharge residue came to be seized from his house. | Sandhu told his client how to explain how gloves with cartridge discharge residue came to be seized from his house. |
| According to transcripts read to the court, Sandhu initially suggested Mr Dinsmore joined a rifle club to explain the residue, and then he suggested that he say they belonged to murdered UDA boss Jim Gray. | According to transcripts read to the court, Sandhu initially suggested Mr Dinsmore joined a rifle club to explain the residue, and then he suggested that he say they belonged to murdered UDA boss Jim Gray. |
| Sandhu had originally entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him, but defence barrister Arthur Harvey QC asked if the solicitor could be re-arraigned on all six counts. | Sandhu had originally entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him, but defence barrister Arthur Harvey QC asked if the solicitor could be re-arraigned on all six counts. |
| He pleaded guilty to five charges. | He pleaded guilty to five charges. |
| Due to the pleas, Mr Kerr agreed that one of the counts of perverting the course of justice should not be proceeded with. | Due to the pleas, Mr Kerr agreed that one of the counts of perverting the course of justice should not be proceeded with. |
| Mr Harvey told the court there was no need in this case for pre-sentence reports but said there were a "number of matters" that still needed to be attended to. | Mr Harvey told the court there was no need in this case for pre-sentence reports but said there were a "number of matters" that still needed to be attended to. |
| He then asked that sentencing be deferred until next week before revealing that Sandhu would not be seeking bail. | He then asked that sentencing be deferred until next week before revealing that Sandhu would not be seeking bail. |
| The police officer in charge of the case, Detective Chief Superintendent Derek Williamson, said it was a very important conviction. | The police officer in charge of the case, Detective Chief Superintendent Derek Williamson, said it was a very important conviction. |
| "It is a conviction that should not be underestimated. It is noteworthy for a number of reasons, not least as it demonstrates that no-one is or should be above the law." | "It is a conviction that should not be underestimated. It is noteworthy for a number of reasons, not least as it demonstrates that no-one is or should be above the law." |
| Barry Finlay, President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland said the society had convened an urgent and special meeting of its Council to consider what actions to take in respect of Sandhu. | Barry Finlay, President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland said the society had convened an urgent and special meeting of its Council to consider what actions to take in respect of Sandhu. |