Published Tuesday, 02 February 2010
Belfast Crown Court heard that Nigel James Brown, 26, from Whitewell Road, also allegedly claimed that his co-accused, Gary Taylor, 23, from Mountcollyer Avenue, stabbed the 15-year-old schoolboy in "frenzy".
However, despite the "hearsay evidence", trial judge Mr Justice McLaughlin warned the jury that while it might be evidence against Brown, it could in no way be taken as evidence of Taylor's alleged involvement.
The court had heard that the alleged confession was relayed by Brown's stepfather David Crozier to his brother Norman, then a PSNI constable, who in turn informed his authorities.
Retired constable Norman Crozier said he was contacted by his bother David about his stepson Nigel in the weeks after the murder of the schoolboy.
He said his brother initially told him that Nigel told him that he had been stopped by police on the night of the brutal killing.
However, he felt there was more his stepson was not telling him.
At a subsequent meeting after hearing that Nigel Brown had been involved in a fight with a group of youths in Somerton Park and had witnessed the stabbing, Con Crozier said that if no-one came forward then he was "obliged as a police officer to report it".
The now retired officer said he got the impression that "Nigel was feeling worse and wanted to get it off his mind".
Later when cross-examined by Brown's defence QC Arthur Harvey, Mr Crozier agreed it appeared his brother was "concerned" his stepson was involved, but "wanted to come forward to tell the truth about what happened".
He further agreed that his brother felt that by even talking to him was putting his family in danger.
"The area (where his brother lived) was controlled by sinister people," said Mr Crozier.
He further agreed that what also appeared to concern both father and son was that "Nigel at no time was aware that Taylor was carrying a knife and that when he saw the knife he immediately panicked and ran".
Mr Crozier also agreed that he got the impression "Nigel continued to be remorseful and want to go and help police, but was fearful of what might happen".
Mr Crozier later agreed that Nigel Brown had been told that even if "he co-operated with the police his safety could not be guaranteed in prison".
However, when questioned by defence QC John Orr for Brown's co-accused Gary Taylor, the former policeman accepted that no such threat came either from Taylor or any member of his family.
The trial continues.