A defence application to have the charges dropped against an English man accused of withholding information about Paul McCauley's murder was today rejected by a Derry judge.
Mr McCauley (pictured) was attacked and left in a vegetative state while at a friend's barbecue in Derry in 2006.
He died nine years later in a care facility in June of last year.
Speaking at Derry Magistrates Court today, District Judge Barney McElholm described the case as a 'serious assault motivated by sectarian hatred'.
He said: "Six men were attacked by a larger group. Paul McCauley died after being in a vegetative state."
Charles Buckingham, 61, of Nash Court Gardens, Margate, Kent, faces three charges of withholding information concerning an arrestable offence, namely murder and grievous bodily harm with intent.
The defendant is alleged to have committed the three offences on 16 December 2015.
There are four people before the court on murder charges.
One of those before the court on murder charges is Matthew Gillen, who worked for Buckingham.
Conversations between Gillen and Buckingham, that were recovered by police led to the charges of withholding information.
An application was made by the defence to have the charges dropped against Buckingham on the grounds that 'no offence was committed in Northern Ireland' as the conversation between Buckingham and Matthew Gillen took place in Scotland, outside of this jurisdiction.
The court heard Buckingham accepted the conversation took place and that he should have provided information to police.
Judge McElholm said: "He failed to give evidence in a reasonable time and without a reasonable excuse."
Furthermore, he said that although Buckingham hadn't stepped foot in Northern Ireland, he could still be prosecuted in this jurisdiction.
The judge said that Buckingham had 'failed to provide' information to a constable in Northern Ireland.
This information could have been provided via the internet, telephone, fax, letter, 'or by solicitor would have sufficed', explained Judge McElholm.
He said it was an offence of 'non-compliance'.
Judge McElholm concluded: "I reject the defence application on this matter.
"He has been properly connected and the case will continue."
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