Men jailed for life after admitting double killing

Albert Armstrong, of Mahee Close in Belfast’s Belvior estate, spoke only three times at Belfast Crown Court.

Once to confirm his identity, and then to plead guilty as each charge of murder, that of veteran UDA man Colin ‘Bap’ Lyndsay and Stanley Wightman, were put to him.

Mr Justice Treacy told Armstrong that under law, the sentence was one of life imprisonment, and that was the sentence he would pass.

However, he added that a tariff hearing would be heard hopefully by the end of the month.

That hearing will determine the minimum sentence he must serve before being considered for release.

Defence QC Gavin Duffy said Armstrong accepted his responsibility but his mental health was an issue.

He added that having evaluated those reports, he would ask for Armstrong to be re-arraigned.

Following his guilty pleas, the lawyer said he would make the various reports available to the court and the probation service in an effort to expedite matters.

Prosecution QC Neil Connor said victim impact reports may also be provided from close family members of both men and how their deaths have affected them.

No details surrounding what happened on July 8 last year were given during the short hearing.

However, at the time it was reported that police found 47-year-old Mr Lyndsay dead in the living room of his Kirkiston Walk in the Belvoir estate.

Beside the father of two was 52-year-old Mr Wightman who died in hospital two days later.

Both men were said to have suffered severe wounds inflicted by a Samurai-type sword.

It was also reported the bloodied weapon, belonging to Mr Lyndsay, was allegedly later recovered from Armstrong’s blue Mazda 6 car.