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Lyra McKee accused will not give evidence at trial

News imagePA Media Shows a young girl with short hair and glasses smilingPA Media
Lyra McKee was shot dead as she observed rioting in the Creggan area of Derry in 2019

The Lyra McKee murder trial has been told none of the nine defendants in the case will be giving evidence.

The journalist was shot dead while observing rioting in the Creggan area of Londonderry in April 2019.

The New IRA admitted responsibility for the 29-year-old's murder.

Peter Cavanagh, 37, of Mary Street in Derry; Jordan Devine, 25, of Bishop Street; and Paul McIntyre, 58, of Kells Walk are all charged with murder.

At Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday barristers for all nine men confirmed that none of their clients will be giving evidence or calling any evidence.

Six other men from Derry who face charges including rioting and throwing a petrol bomb. All nine deny the charges.

They are: Joseph Barr, 37, of Sandringham Drive; Jude McCrory, 28, of Gartan Square; Joseph Anthony Campbell, 25, of Goshaden Cottages; Patrick Anthony Gallagher, 33, of John Field Place; Kieran George McCool, 57, of Ballymagowan Gardens; and Christopher Joseph Gillen, 45, of Balbane Pass.

One other defendant, William Patrick Elliott, 58, formerly of Ballymagowan Gardens, died last year.

News imagePA Media Shows three men in separate photos side by side. The one on the left has dark hair and is wearing a black polo shirt. The one in the middle has grey hair and a grey beard. He is wearing a grey zip-up top with a blue and white checked shirt. The man on the right is bald and has a grey beard. He is wearing a blue Harrington back with a green granda shirt. PA Media
(L-R) Jordan Devine, Peter Cavanagh and Paul McIntyre are all accused of the murder of Lyra McKee

In court on Wednesday, Mrs Justice Smyth addressed all the defence barristers and said: "The stage has now been reached at which your clients may give evidence.

"If any of them chooses not to do so, or having been sworn without good cause refuses to answer any questions, the court may draw such inferences as appear proper from his failure to do so."

She then asked each barrister if their client "wishes to give evidence."

After receiving responses from all nine legal teams that the defendants would not be giving evidence, the senior judge said: "In those circumstances we will move to final submissions."

The case will be heard again on 25 March.

Last month the judge dismissed a defence application that there is no case to answer.