Ian Ogle: Two men plead guilty to murder of Belfast man

Ian Ogle, 45, was beaten and stabbed 11 times near his home in Cluan Place in east Belfast in January 2019

Two men have been handed life sentences after pleading guilty to the murder of Ian Ogle in east Belfast.

Mr Ogle, 45, was beaten and stabbed 11 times near his home in Cluan Place in January 2019.

Jonathan Brown, 38, from Whinney Hill in Dundonald and Mark Sewell, 45, of Glenmount Drive in Newtownabbey both pleaded guilty to the charge of murder after being rearraigned on Thursday.

The judge then imposed life sentences for both men at Belfast Crown court.

Members of Mr Ogle's family sat in the public gallery as Mr Justice O'Hara informed both men they would serve life sentences after entering their guilty pleas.

"The minimum length of time which you will be required to serve in prison before your release will be considered will be set at a tariff hearing after the other parts of this trial are finished," the judge said.

Three men will now face trial on murder charges. A fourth defendant also faces a single charge of assisting an offender.

Earlier this week, two men admitted to lesser charges in connection with the murder of Ian Ogle, namely withholding information and assisting an offender.

The only woman charged in connection with the case also pleaded guilty to assisting offenders last week.

Further legal arguments in the case are set to take place next week.