Murder accused 'staged accident'
A man facing a homicide charge allegedly set up a prison accident to try and get external medical treatment and possibly flee, a court has heard.
Prosecutors said Jimmy Seales "manufactured" an incident in which his hands were crushed by a drain cover.
Seales, 54, from Ballykeel Road, Hillsborough, is accused of the homicide of Philip Strickland in January.
Mr Strickland, 36, was shot in the head and leg in his car near Comber, County Down.
Seales, who is also charged with possession of a firearm and making threats to kill, was himself allegedly kidnapped and subjected to a vicious assault months before the killing.
His lawyers argue the injuries inflicted in that beating mean he was incapable of firing the homicide weapon.
A new application for bail was opposed on the grounds that he may flee Northern Ireland if released from custody.
The court heard he has access to a large amount of cash after netting £5m from a land sale.
Forensics delayKate McKay, prosecuting, also disclosed police suspicions over fresh injuries suffered by Seales in custody.
She said there was CCTV footage showing him kicking a piece of paper into a drain then lifting the cover and putting his hands inside before two men slam it down in a crushing action.
"To put himself through that pain shows how desperate he is to try to get out," Mrs McKay claimed.
Seales' hands could be seen covered in heavy bandaging as he appeared by video-link for the hearing.
Defence counsel Ian Turkington claimed the case against his client was weak and flawed.
He attacked the credibility of a key eye witness and argued that Seales should be released due to delays in obtaining forensic results.
Mr Turkington also rejected claims that the accused may flee, pointing out that all his business interests, property and farm land is in Northern Ireland.
Bail was refused on the basis that the delays over forensics was not yet sufficient to compel release.
However, Lord Justice Coghlin ordered a further review of the case in October.
The judge warned: "By that stage, a significant delay will have been solely attributed to the state's failure to provide adequate resources to the forensic science laboratory.
"That may well permit a different view at that time."
Read More @ Source Checkmate - 18th March 2012
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