Jury to be sworn in on Monday for County Derry murder trial
Jonathan Cresswell (35) of Briar Hill Gardens in Greysteel is charged with the murder of Katie Simpson on August 9, 2020 and one charge of rape of Ms Simpson on a date between August 2 and August 4, 2020
A jury will be sworn in on Monday in Bishop Street courthouse for the trial of a man charged with the murder of his partner's sister, Derry Crown Court heard today.
Jonathan Cresswell (35) of Briar Hill Gardens in Greysteel is charged with the murder of Katie Simpson on August 9, 2020 and one charge of rape of Ms Simpson on a date between August 2 and August 4, 2020.
Cresswell is due to go on trial for the murder on Tuesday of next week in Coleraine but at today's sitting of Derry Crown Court Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that facilities on Coleraine were not suitable for the jury panel required.
He said that due to this it was intended to select the jury in Bishop Street on Monday, April 22 and then begin the trial on Tuesday, April 23 in Coleraine.
The trial is expected to last four to six weeks and will be heard in front of Judge Rafferty.
Cresswell is currently on bail.
Katie Simpson was taken to Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital following an incident in Lettershandoney outside Derry in August 3, 2020 and died without regaining consciousness on August 9 2020.