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| Bloody Sunday: Soldier F murder trial to begin on Monday | Bloody Sunday: Soldier F murder trial to begin on Monday |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Soldier F is accused of murdering James Wray (left) and William McKinney | Soldier F is accused of murdering James Wray (left) and William McKinney |
| The army veteran Soldier F is set to go on trial on Monday, accused of murdering two people on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in 1972. | The army veteran Soldier F is set to go on trial on Monday, accused of murdering two people on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in 1972. |
| The former paratrooper, whose identity remains protected by a court order, has entered pleas of not guilty. | The former paratrooper, whose identity remains protected by a court order, has entered pleas of not guilty. |
| He also denies five counts of attempted murder. | He also denies five counts of attempted murder. |
| Thirteen people were shot dead by the Parachute Regiment when it opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in the Bogside area of the city. About 15 others were wounded. | Thirteen people were shot dead by the Parachute Regiment when it opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in the Bogside area of the city. About 15 others were wounded. |
| The non-jury trial, which is scheduled to last a number of weeks, is taking place at Belfast Crown Court. | The non-jury trial, which is scheduled to last a number of weeks, is taking place at Belfast Crown Court. |
| Soldier F is charged with the murders of James Wray, 22, and William McKinney, 27. | Soldier F is charged with the murders of James Wray, 22, and William McKinney, 27. |
| He is further accused of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person. | He is further accused of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person. |
| Bloody Sunday families and supporters walked to the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday | |
| Families and friends of those killed on Bloody Sunday as well as scores of supporters took part in a walk to the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Monday, ahead of the opening of the trial. | |
| They gathered in the Markets area close to the city centre and proceeded silently along Victoria Street, closing traffic along part of the way. | |
| Those at the front of march carried a large banner saying: "Towards Justice". | |
| Tony Doherty, chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said: "This day is a tribute to the strength of the families, whose indefatigable campaign for justice has made this happen." | Tony Doherty, chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said: "This day is a tribute to the strength of the families, whose indefatigable campaign for justice has made this happen." |
| Thirteen people were shot dead by the Army on Bloody Sunday | Thirteen people were shot dead by the Army on Bloody Sunday |
| The decision to charge Soldier F was taken by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in 2019. | The decision to charge Soldier F was taken by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in 2019. |
| He was one of 18 former soldiers reported to the PPS as a result of a police investigation, which followed the public inquiry into Bloody Sunday conducted by Lord Saville. | He was one of 18 former soldiers reported to the PPS as a result of a police investigation, which followed the public inquiry into Bloody Sunday conducted by Lord Saville. |
| But he was the only one charged. | But he was the only one charged. |
| Two years later, the PPS dropped the case after the collapse of the trial of two other veterans who had been accused of a 1972 murder in Belfast. | Two years later, the PPS dropped the case after the collapse of the trial of two other veterans who had been accused of a 1972 murder in Belfast. |
| But the prosecution resumed in 2022 after a legal challenge. | But the prosecution resumed in 2022 after a legal challenge. |
| The key evidence in the Soldier F case is statements given by other soldiers at the time of Bloody Sunday. | The key evidence in the Soldier F case is statements given by other soldiers at the time of Bloody Sunday. |
| The trial judge is likely to decide at an early stage if they are admissible. | The trial judge is likely to decide at an early stage if they are admissible. |
| Who is Soldier F? | Who is Soldier F? |
| A former British soldier who served with the Army's Parachute Regiment in Northern Ireland during the Troubles | A former British soldier who served with the Army's Parachute Regiment in Northern Ireland during the Troubles |
| He cannot be named due to an interim court order granting his anonymity | He cannot be named due to an interim court order granting his anonymity |
| Soldier F is being prosecuted for the murders of William McKinney and James Wray on Bloody Sunday | Soldier F is being prosecuted for the murders of William McKinney and James Wray on Bloody Sunday |
| He also faces charges of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person on the same date | He also faces charges of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person on the same date |