Critical witness jailed for fleeing to Spain instead of giving evidence at murder trial

The court in Cork heard how Kallum Coleman 'legged it' when gardaí stopped to get refreshments en route to a Spanish airport

Kallum Coleman's counsel said of the young man: 'He is not a common criminal. He did not do anything wrong save being in fear of his life where he would rather kill himself than give evidence'. pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

A critical witness in a murder trial who fled to Spain and never gave evidence was jailed on Monday for four months for contempt of court by failing to turn up as required by the witness order.

24-year-old Kallum Coleman was to have been a witness in the high-profile murder trial of barrister Diarmuid Phelan, who was acquitted earlier this month on the charge of murdering a trespasser on his farm.