Two men deny murder of Victor Hamilton in Ballymena in July 2022

Two men denied murdering a man in Ballymena almost two years ago in court on Friday.

Mamadu Saido Djalo (31), of Derryveen Crescent, Dungannon, Co Tyrone and Michael Hanrahan (42), of Thomas Street, Craigavon, Co Armagh, appeared at Belfast Crown Court from custody for an arraignment hearing.

When the charge of murdering 63-year-old Victor Hamilton on 26 July 2022, was put to them by the court clerk, both defendants replied not guilty.

Djalo further denied six counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice on dates between 29 December 2022 and 22 March 2023.

The charges state that he "attempted to do an act which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice, namely that he contacted a witness by telephone and attempted to persuade her to withdraw her witness statement''.

A third co-accused, Mario Menees (33), of Portmore Street, Co Armagh, was not arraigned today (Friday) due to a legal issue, the court heard.

No date for the jury trial was set and Mr Justice O'Hara said he would review the case in April.

Mr Hamilton was found dead in a pool of blood outside his home at Orkney Drive in the Co Antrim town’s Ballykeel housing estate.

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