British army veteran known as Soldier F not guilty of Bloody Sunday murders

"Soldier F was on trial for two murders and five attempted murders during a defining event of Northern Ireland's Troubles. Mr Justice Lynch gave the ruling at Belfast crown court on Thursday, five weeks after the start of the long-awaited trial that was closely watched by nationalists, army veteran groups and the British and Irish governments. The judge presided over the case without a jury, which is permitted in exceptional cases."

"Soldier F, a former lance corporal, had pleaded not guilty to the murders of James Wray and William McKinney and the attempted murder of five others. Granted anonymity by a court order, he was concealed in the dock by a curtain. British troops shot 31 civilians on the day of the protest, killing 13. Another casualty who died four months later is widely considered a 14th victim."

Soldier F, a former lance corporal, was tried for the murders of James Wray and William McKinney and the attempted murder of five others related to Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972. Mr Justice Lynch delivered a not guilty ruling at Belfast Crown Court after a five-week trial held without a jury under exceptional-cases provisions. The defendant was granted anonymity and remained concealed behind a curtain in the dock. British troops shot 31 civilians during the protest, killing 13, with a 14th victim dying months later. Relatives campaigned for decades for prosecutions, while army veteran groups described the proceedings as a witch-hunt. The trial attracted attention from nationalists and both British and Irish governments.

Read at www.theguardian.com