Tears at murder trial

A police officer who responded to an emergency call which led to the murder of a colleague, shouted "this is a set up" when she heard shots ring out.

Brendan McConville, 40, and John Paul Wootton, 20, are on trial for the murder of policeman Stephen Carroll in Craigavon County Armagh in March 2009. Both deny murder and possession of an AK47 assault rifle.

The killing came two days after the Massereene army barracks shootings which left two British soldiers dead. The Craigavon murder was claimed by the Continuity IRA.

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On Tuesday the police officer told the court she was in the first car to arrive in the Lismore estate in Craigavon on the night of the attack.

"I heard cracks and shouted to my colleagues to get in. I shouted 'this is a set up,'" she said. She also told the Belfast court she heard someone shout from the other police car "my driver is dead."

Members of the Carroll family wiped away tears as a statement from paramedic Phillip McFadden was read out in court on Tuesday. McFadden said he found Constable Carroll "motionless in his car."

Constable Carroll was the first police officer to be killed since the formation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

 

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