There have been some “developments” in the case of a man accused of causing the deaths of a father and son in a Killylea road traffic collision in December.
Ivan Petrov, 34, of Newry Road in Armagh, is accused of causing the deaths of Peter and Loughlin Devlin by dangerous driving on December 27, while also causing grievous bodily injury to Ursula Devlin as a result of the same collision on the Killylea Road.
A prosecutor told Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday that the defence wish to speak with the investigating officer, Detective Constable Neil Baird, in relation to “some developments” in what has been a “complex investigation”.
The prosecutor, asking for a four-week adjournment, confirmed that a forensic report has been expedited “so it is well up the queue in terms of having that evidence submitted”.
Petrov’s defence barrister remarked: “I’m grateful to my friends in the case that there is progress and the file is due on Friday.
“It would be remiss of me not to point out [that] my client is in custody and I was just wondering, to avoid slippage and to keep an eye on the case, would there be any merit in taking the file for two weeks to ensure that the file is in on Friday and that deadline is met.
“I’m just conscious, given that he’s in custody, his family are in attendance. I know he’s a stranger to custody, and if there are forensic issues, and the file should be in on Friday, perhaps even if you took it on a smaller leash to ensure the file is in.”
Deputy District Judge Peter Prenter adjourned the case for two weeks until March 4.
