A man today pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Victor Hamilton who was found dead in a pool of blood outside his home.
Mamadu Saido Djalo (32), of Derryveen Crescent, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, was due to go on trial along with two accused for the murder of Mr Hamilton.
The body of the 63-year-old was found in the driveway of his home at Orkney Drive, Ballymena over two years ago.
But on application of his senior counsel Brenda Campbell KC, Djalo was today (Thursday) re-arraigned at Belfast Crown Court before Mr Justice O’Hara.
When the charge of murdering Mr Hamilton on July 26, 2022 was put to him by the court clerk, Djalo replied: “Not guilty to murder. Guilty to manslaughter.”
Crown counsel Michael Chambers KC told the court the guilty plea to manslaughter was “acceptable to the prosecution”.
He said the seven other charges Djalo faced of attempting to pervert the course of justice would be “left on the books with the usual order”.
Mr Justice O’Hara said Djalo would be freed on his own bail of £750 at an address approved by police.
As part of his bail conditions Djalo was also excluded from entering Ballymena as designated by the 30 mph speed limit.
Earlier in the proceedings, co-accused Mario Menezes (35), of Portmore Street, Portadown and Michael Hanrahan (43) of Thomas Street Craigavon, both in Co Armagh, were arraigned on a new charge and pleaded guilty to withholding information.
The charge reads: “Between July 26, 2022 and August 1, 2022, Casemiro Sano Lopez Vaz having committed a relevant offence, namely murder, knowing or believing that that offence or some other relevant offence had been committed and you had information which was likely to secure or to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of some person for that offence without reasonable excuse failed to give that information within a reasonable time to a constable.”
Prosecution counsel Gavin Duffy KC said the plea to the withholding information charge was “acceptable to the Crown” and the murder charge they had faced will now be “left on the books in the usual terms’’.
Mr Justice O’Hara stated: “If I understand correctly, the individual who the Crown believes is the direct killer in this case, Mr Vaz, escaped to Portugal after the killing of Mr Hamilton, is that correct?”
Mr Duffy replied: “He did My Lord and has not yet been made amenable to the court.”
The senior judge inquired: “Is that partly because Portugal does not extradite their own citizens?”
Mr Duffy replied: “Not for offences of murder as the matter currently stands. Of course it is a matter for the legislature in Portugal and that might change in the future.
“If it does, all efforts will certainly continue to have him returned.”
Said Mr Justice O’Hara: “The two defendants who have just pleaded guilty to withholding information were the back seat passengers in the car which drove up from Portadown to Ballymena on the night Mr Hamilton was killed and then drove back to Portadown.”
The prosecutor told the court: “There is acceptance in an agreed basis of plea that the two defendants did not get out of the car after the vehicle arrived at the relevant location”.
Defence counsel Frank O’Donoghue KC said Hanrahan has served two years and nine months on remand and was a suitable candidate for bail.
Greg Berry KC for Menezes said his client can’t be imprisoned for more than three years for the offence he has pleaded guilty to.
“We would have an application for him to be released on bail today (Thursday). Any further detention would be arbitrary.
“To put it bluntly, he has served his time. He shouldn’t be detained any longer.”
Mr Duffy said the applications for bail were not resisted by the prosecution but certain conditions would have to be met to make sure the proposed bail addresses were appropriate and approved by police.
Mr Justice O’Hara said that “in principle I am satisfied that these two defendants should be released on bail and that could be perfected later today (Thursday) on agreed terms”.
Mr O’Donoghue said he would prefer for Hanrahan to remain in custody and when he is sentenced he can appear via video link from the prison “so that he could be released from the prison rather than the court and that allow him to gather up his belongings and allow his orderly return to the community.”
Mr Justice O’Hara said that he would sentence all three defendants next Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
