James Wray (left) and William McKinney murdered by British soldier on Bloody Sunday in Derry in January 1972
The ex-Paratrooper, known as Soldier F, is accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney on January 30, 1972, as well as four counts of attempting to murder Joseph Friel, Joseph McMahon, Mark Quinn and Patrick O’Donnell.
He is further accused of the attempted murder of “person or persons unknown” on the same date.
Soldier F, whose address on court papers is given as c/o PSNI Seapark, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, will not be present for today’s proceedings at Bishop Street courthouse.
The case is listed to start at 10 am.
It is understood the former paratrooper will be represented by his legal team at the premliminary enquiry before a district judge.
In March this year, the Public Prosecution Service announced that it was prosecuting Soldier F over the double murder and five counts of attempted murder.
Relatives of the Bloody Sunday families, who were informed last week of the court hearing, will pack the public gallery of Court 4 for today’s proceedings.
Soldier F, now said to be in his sixties, is not compelled to attend a first committal hearing if his lawyers are to mount a challenge to proceedings.
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