Published Thursday, 21 January 2010
Giving evidence at the Belfast Crown Court trial of Nigel James Brown, Inspector Arthur McKenna told the jury he had been on mobile patrol when he spotted Brown walking his dog at the junction of Fortwilliam Park and the Somerton Road after midnight on 11 August 2005.
He had already heard on radio transmissions that 15-year-old Thomas had been stabbed and killed on the Somerton Road after two men, one with a dog, had attacked him and two friends.
Inspector McKenna, who was a sergeant at the time, told prosecuting QC Toby Hedworth that when he stopped and searched Brown, 26, he appeared "agitated verging on aggressive" but that nothing was found during the search.
The officer added that "what struck my attention" was that Brown was wearing black, woollen gloves when "it was not a cold night".
Asked what he was doing in that area, Inspector McKenna told the lawyer Brown said he was "out walking the dog" and that he was wondering "whether to arrest him or not" when he was told that a witness in a passing police car had not identified him as one of assailants.
Alongside Brown in the dock denying murdering Thomas is Gary Taylor, 23, from Mountcollyer Avenue.
The north Belfast pair also deny attempting to murder Thomas's friend Jonathan McKee and of attempting to cause him grievous bodily harm during the attack.
Brown, from the Whitewell Road in Belfast, has already pleaded guilty to a further charge of attempting to inflict GBH on Mr McKee.
Thomas, Jonathan and Fintan Maguire were walking along the Somerton Road beside St. Patrick's school in the north of the city when they were attacked by two men walking a small black dog.
The Crown alleges that Brown was armed with a baton while Taylor was allegedly armed with a knife.
The trial continues.