Soldier accused of Bloody Sunday murders to go on trial later this month

Soldier F is accused of murdering James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) on Bloody Sunday

The trial of an Army veteran charged with murder in relation to Bloody Sunday is expected to begin as planned later this month, a court has heard.

A short pre-trial hearing has been held at Belfast Crown Court, which dealt mainly with procedural and logistical matters.

Barristers told the judge they anticipated the trial of the former paratrooper, known as Soldier F, would commence on Monday, 15 September.

He is charged with murder in relation to the killings of James Wray and William McKinney.

They were among 13 people who were shot dead by the Parachute Regiment at a civil rights demonstration in the Bogside area of Londonderry in January 1972.

Soldier F, who cannot be named due to a court order, has also pleaded not guilty to five counts of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and and unknown person on the same date.