Teen charged in connection with Belfast murder

A 16-year-old youth today became the fourth person to be charged in connection with the murder of a man who was shot as he slept beside his girlfriend.

The teenager was charged with conspiracy to murder David Barnes at the flat in Brookvale Avenue, north Belfast, on March 8.

Last night two men were charged in connection with the murder, while a woman appeared in court yesterday on a charge of conspiracy to murder.

A 37-year-old man was charged with murdering David Barnes while a 49-year-old man was charged with conspiracy to murder and incitement to murder.

The two men and the youth are due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Yesterday, 31-year-old Elaine Maguire was charged with conspiring to murder Mr Barnes some time between November 1, 2002, and March 8, 2003.

A detective inspector said that when cautioned, the accused replied “not guilty”.

She was remanded in custody to appear again by video link on July 11.

Mr Barnes, 39, was shot in the head in a flat in the north of the city after his killers smashed in the door of the apartment.

At least two masked men entered the bedroom, firing two shots. The brother of the victim’s girlfriend, who was asleep in another room, called the emergency services after the gun attack but Mr Barnes died at the scene.