Couple face pizza man murder trial; COURT.

Byline: MICKEY DONNELLY

A MUM aged 19 and her boyfriend are to go on trial in connection with the murder of pizza delivery man Emmett Shiels, a judge said yesterday.

Nadine Kelly, from Celandine Court, Derry, denied providing Gary Meenan, 19, of Bishop Street in the city, with a false alibi for the time of the shooting in the early hours of June 24 last year.

Meenan, the father of their two-year-old daughter, pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Shiels, attempting to murder another man, assaulting two others, and possessing a gun with intent "to cause fear or violence".

SHOOTING Mr Shiels was shot dead in Bligh's Lane in the Creggan area of Derry after he is said to have intervened in a paramilitary-style punishment shooting.

Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Hart has set the trial date for January 6 next year before a Diplock nonjury judge.

However, Mr Justice Hart yesterday refused to set aside six weeks for the trial, telling solicitor Paddy McDermott that the original estimate was three weeks.

CAPTION(S):

ACCUSED Nadine Kelly