Man admits charge in connection with Christopher Meli murder
A Dunmurry man has pleaded guilty to an offence linked to the murder of 20-year-old Christopher Meli in December 2015.
Daniel McManus appeared at Belfast Crown Court today, where he was re-arraigned on a charge of affray.
When the single charge was put to him by a clerk of the court, he replied “guilty.”
The 20-year old was one of eight young people charged with offences linked to the murder of father-of-one Mr Meli, who was beaten to death on the evening of December 12, 2015 in west Belfast.
Charges levelled at the accused - which have all been denied - range from murder and grievous bodily to attempted GBH and affray.
From Springbank Drive in Dunmurry, McManus was charged with affray - and whilst he initially denied the charge, he entered a guilty plea after being re-arraigned today.
Mr Justice Colton said he would sentence McManus at the conclusion of the trial of his seven co-accused, with the hearing scheduled to start next month.
Three of the defendants have been charged with murder and other violent offences, while four co-accused are standing trial for offences linked to alleged violent incidents both before and after the attack in Twinbrook which claimed Mr Meli’s life.