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A FORMER British soldier who was standing trial for the attempted murder of an unarmed civilian in 1974 near Benburb has died.
Denis Hutchings’ trial was adjourned today after the veteran fell ill with Covid-19.
BBC journalist, Julian O’Neill, tweeted, “Army veteran Denis Hutchings has died in Belfast’s Mater Hospital on day trial halted with news he’d contracted Covid.”
Due to the 80-year-old defendant’s ill health, the non-jury trial had been adjourned for three weeks. The court was earlier told he was in isolation in a hotel.
It was sitting for three days each week at Belfast Crown Court to allow Hutchings, who has been diagnosed as suffering from an incurable chronic kidney disease, to receive ongoing treatment.
From Cornwall, he was an ex-member of the Life Guards regiment.
John Pat Cunningham, who had a learning difficulty, was shot in the back and killed as he ran away from an army patrol near Benburb. Hutchings denied the charges against him.