Man faces double murder charge

David McIlwaine and Andrew Robb were killed in February 2000

The trial of a man accused of murdering two Portadown teenagers more than five years ago has opened in Belfast.

Steven Leslie Brown, 25, also known as Steven Revels from Castle Place, Castlecaulfield, denies killing Andrew Robb, 19, and David McIlwaine, 18.

They were stabbed to death on 19 February 2000 after leaving a disco in Tandragee. Their bodies were found on a road outside the town.

A prosecution lawyer said the case against him as "compelling".

He claimed that the accused had been "a principal" in the murders.

Speaking at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday, he said much of the evidence would come from a man who was present at the murder scene, and who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.