Father-of-nine Edward Meenan who was murdered in Derry in November 2018
However, a date for the hearing could not be fixed after it emerged that a trial involving four defendants was not able to proceed due to current Covid-19 restrictions.
The body of 52-year old Edward Meenan was discovered in an alleyway in Creggan Street.
A post mortem report said the father-of-nine sustained multiple stab wounds.
Three men have been charged with his murder, while a woman was charged with withholding information. All four accused have denied the charges.
Sean Ciaran Joseph Rodgers of no fixed abode appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Friday, where he was charged with – and denied – three offences.
The 33-year old appeared with his solicitor via videolink, where he entered ‘not guilty’ pleas to murdering Mr Meenan on November 25, 2018, and of wounding another man on the same date with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
Rodgers also denied perverting the course of justice on the same date by ‘destroying evidence’.
Two other men appeared in court in September, where they faced the same three charges – namely murder, wounding with intent and perverting the court of justice.
Derek William Creswell (28) from Kings Lane in Ballykelly and 21-year old Ryan Walters from Station Road in Crossgar entered ‘not guilty’ pleas to the charged levelled against them.
A fourth co-accused – Sinead Martina White (37) from St Brecans Park in Derry – appeared in court in July, when she was charged with withholding information about the murder.
White denied that on November 25, 2018 she failed to give information to police that was likely to secure an arrest knowing or believing that murder had been committed.
Mr Justice O’Hara asked for an update on the case and was told the trial was expected to last for four weeks.
The Judge then noted that due to the current pandemic, a trial involving four defendants had not yet been held – and was not likely to do so in the near future.
Defence teams for the accused told Mr Justice O’Hara that several reports are yet to be received.
As a date and venue for the trial was not fixed, Mr Justice O’Hara said he would review the case on January 22, 2021.
He expressed the hope that all outstanding reports will have been obtained by that date.
