Families weep at murder details

The families of two teenage murder victims wept in court as they heard a horrific account of their deaths.

Portadown teenagers Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine were stabbed to death in February 2000.

Steven Leslie Brown, also known as Stephen Revels, of Castle Place in Castlecaulfield, denies the murders.

The victims' families were clearly shaken as Mark Burcombe, one of the men involved in the killings, gave a graphic account of the killings.

Evidence

Burcombe, the only person to have admitted involvement in the murders, explained in chilling detail just how brutal their deaths had been.

Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge after agreeing to turn Queen's evidence.

He described how the accused, Steven Brown, allegedly beat and kicked David McIlwaine.

Burcombe said another man, Noel Dillon, who is now dead, then cut his throat with a butcher's knife.

Steven Brown, according to Burcombe, then took the knife and repeatedly stabbed David McIlwaine, afterwards boasting how he had enjoyed it.

Under cross-examination, Burcombe admitted he had not told police the whole truth when he first came forward but denied he was lying to cover up his own role in the murders.

The trial continues.