Hi °C | Lo °C The trial of five people accused of murdering west Belfast man Gerard Devlin is due to get under way today.
Four members of the same family and a fifth man are all charged with the murder of the father-of-six — linked by police to a long-running feud.
Mr Devlin (39) was knifed to death at Whitecliff Parade in Ballymurphy on February 3, 2006.
A large police presence is expected at Belfast Crown Court as the trial, scheduled to last for six weeks, begins before Mr Justice Stephens.
Francisco Notorantonio (21) is accused of murder, affray, wounding with intent and attempting to wound with intent, Christopher Notorantonio (56) and William Notorantonio are both accused of murder and affray. All three men have an addresses at Whitecliff Parade.
Anthony Notorantonio (50), of no fixed abode, is charged with murder, affray and assault occasioning ABH. Paul Burns (26), of Dermott Hill Park, is accused of murder, affray and assault occasioning ABH.
The accused deny all the charges.
The death of Mr Devlin was the culmination of a bitter feud which led to a massive police operation to restore calm in Ballymurphy estate.
