Pat Finucane murder accused attempts to halt trial

Lawyers representing a former UDA man accused of murdering solicitor Pat Finucane have attempted to halt his trial because no new evidence has emerged over the past 10 years.

50-year-old William Stobie has applied for his case to be halted as an abuse of process.

Mr Stobie has been charged with helping those who murdered Mr Finucane on February 12 1989.

His case is crucial to allegations that the RUC colluded in the murder.

Mr Stobie claims he told the RUC special branch that the UDA was planning to murder Pat Finucane, but the RUC did absolutely nothing to prevent the attack.

His claims led to an investigation by British police, under the guidance of commissioner John Stevens. Mr Stobie’s lawyer told Belfast Crown Court today:

"The fundamental submission is that there was nothing new obtained by the Stevens inquiry during the course of their investigation that was not already known to the RUC."