Massereene barracks murder trial to start today

A man will go on trial today for the murders of two British soldiers in the North.

Brian Shivers, 47, from Magherafelt, Co Derry, is charged with murdering sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, outside Massereene army barracks in Antrim nearly four years ago.

Shivers also faces six counts of attempted murder and one of possession of two firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life in relation to the Real IRA attack in March 2009.

Sappers Quinsey, from Birmingham, and Azimkar, from London, were gunned down as they collected pizza outside the gates of the barracks.

The soldiers from 38 Engineer Regiment were just hours away from deploying to Afghanistan and already dressed in desert fatigues.

Two other soldiers and two pizza delivery men were seriously injured in the attack.

Shivers will face trial at Belfast Crown Court.