Published Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Chinese businessman Simon Tang, murdered in Carrickfergus in 1996. (© Tang family.)
Lawyers for Paul Allen applied to have him released so that he could be with his partner and their newborn child.
The 38-year-old is accused of killing Simon Tang in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim.
Mr Tang, a 28-year-old married father of two, was beaten and robbed outside his takeaway business in the town in June 1996.
His watch and the night's taking were stolen during the attack. He was taken to hospital but died from injuries believed to have been inflicted by a wooden bat.
No one has been convicted of his murder.
Allen, of Drumhoy Drive, and George Robinson, 36, from The Hollies, both in Carrick, were arrested and jointly charged last month.
Both men deny any involvement in the killing.
Three anonymous witnesses, identified only as Witness A, B and C have now given evidence against the suspects.
Allen was previously refused bail amid prosecution concerns about potential intimidation and based on intelligence material supplied to a judge.
His barrister, Mark Farrell, mounted a new application following the birth of his client's daughter.
He also argued there was another change of circumstances in that fears of possible interference with a witness have proved groundless.
Mr Farrell said: "There is no evidence that this man has or will attempt to intimidate anyone."
But the judge, Lord Justice Higgins, noted that relevant matters were still being dealt with by the police and public prosecution service.
Refusing bail, he ruled: "No change of circumstances has been made out by the applicant."