Malcolm McKeown murder: Two young boys on bikes first to find body

Malcolm McKeown was shot dead outside a petrol station in 2019

Two young boys out riding their bikes found the body of murder victim Malcolm McKeown, Belfast Crown Court has been told.

Mr McKeown was shot at least six times as he sat in his car at the back of a service station in Waringstown, County Down, in August 2019.

Four men were charged with murdering him.

Three of them have denied killing the 54-year-old, while another has admitted to "aiding and abetting" his murder.

While 28-year-old Andrew Thomas Kenneth Martin of Bridge Street in Banbridge was given an automatic life sentence, his plea was not accepted by the Crown.

He therefore appeared in the dock in court on Wednesday alongside his three co-accused.

Jake O'Brien, 29, from Rectory Road in Lurgan, Stevie Lee Watson, 35, from Princeton Avenue in Lurgan and 34-year old Simon Smyth from Hazelgrove Avenue in Lurgan - continue to deny murdering Mr McKeown.

Fired at close range

A police officer who attended the scene said she saw several bullet holes in the driver's side of Mr McKeown's BMW.

In her statement which was read to the court, she said she was informed that it was "two young boys who came across him [Mr McKeown] while cycling in the area."

The non-jury trial also heard evidence from the assistant state pathologist who carried out a post mortem examination on Mr McKeown.

The pathologist confirmed that the victim died from bullet wounds to his head and body and was hit by at least six bullets.The assistant state pathologist also revealed that after examining a bullet wound to Mr McKeown's head, he concluded the gun was fired at close range.

He said it was "quite possible" the muzzle of the weapon had been pressed against the victim's skin.