The trial of Soldier F, the former British paratrooper accused of two murders and five attempted murders on January 30, 1972 in Co Derry, Bloody Sunday, is likely to begin this September.
Soldier F's case was mentioned briefly today, Tuesday, February 18 at Belfast Crown Court before judge Justice Stephen Fowler.
According to the PA, the court heard that a separate judge is to be appointed in the next few days to look at issues around the disclosure of material for the trial.
Justice Fowler said he wants to review progress around disclosure in four weeks’ time before setting a date for the trial.
He told the court he intends to list the trial for September, adding that "the question is the date."
The case is next set to be mentioned on March 18.
Soldier F appeared remotely via videolink, the PA noted on Tuesday, while relatives of Bloody Sunday victim William McKinney watched on from the public gallery.
Soldier F, who cannot be identified but is reportedly in his mid-70s, is the only British soldier to face prosecution over the events of Bloody Sunday, January 30, 1972.
On that day, British paratroopers opened fire on a peaceful protest organized by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association which was protesting the poor treatment of Catholics in Northern Ireland.
13 people were killed on the day, while another person died months later after being shot in the leg.
In March 2019, Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) announced that Soldier F would be prosecuted for the murders of Jim Wray and William McKinney.
Bloody Sunday victims Jim Wray (L) and William McKinney.
In 2021, however, the PPS dropped the case against Soldier F after a separate trial collapsed against two other former British soldiers.
However, the High Court overruled the decision following a legal challenge from the relatives of Bloody Sunday victims, prompting the PPS to announce in September 2022 that it would recommence proceedings against Soldier F.
In December 2023, District Judge Ted Magill said he didn't "require any more time" and that he was returning Soldier F for trial on all charges.
Last June, lawyers for Soldier F applied to have the case against their client dismissed ahead of his trial, claiming that there was insufficient evidence. In December, however, Justice Fowler refused the defence application, ruling that statements from the time by two other soldiers provided "a sufficiency of evidence" to continue.
Soldier F pleaded not guilty to the murders of Wray and McKinney and the attempted murders of five other people on Bloody Sunday in 1972.
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