No jury verdict in murder case

Man was stabbed at city centre restaurant

A Belfast man could face a second murder trial after a Crown Court jury failed to reach a verdict at the end of his 18-day trial.

Anthony Hagans, 29, from Ross Street in the Divis area of Belfast was remanded back into custody on Thursday while the Director of Public Prosecutions considers the next move in his case.

The accused denies murdering 32-year-old David Finn, who was fatally stabbed during an argument in the McDonald's city centre restaurant in Donegall Place on 23 February last year.

He allegedly told police that moments before the fight he had been cleaning his nails with a small penknife, but thought he had put it away before the confrontation with Mr Finn.

After over three hours deliberation on Thursday, the jury of six men and six women returned to tell trial judge Lord Justice Nicholson they could not even agree on a majority verdict.

Asked by the judge if they were given more time would they be likely to agree on a verdict, the jury told him it would be "a waste of time".

Mr Hagans is to make a bail application before Lord Justice Nicholson in the coming days while the Director of Public Prosecutions considers the case.