Man denies murdering Shane Whitla in Lurgan

Image source, PSNI

Image caption, Shane Whitla was shot dead in an alleyway near his home in Lurgan in 2023

A Belfast man has denied murdering Shane Whitla, who was shot dead in Lurgan.

Joshua Adam Cotter, of Glenalina Road in the west of the city, also pleaded not guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

The 31-year-old appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

Mr Whitla was killed in an alleyway in Woodville Street in the County Armagh town on 12 January 2023.

Police previously said they believed he was lured there by a phone call and that he had been threatened over an alledged drug debt by a crime gang known as The Firm the night before his murder.

Second arraignment adjourned

The arraignment of Jake Joseph O'Brien, formerly of Church Walk in Lurgan, who faces the same charges as Mr Cotter, was adjourned at the request of his defence team.

They said they were considering mounting an application to challenge the prosecution case against the 30-year-old.

Mr Justice O'Hara said he would review the case on 20 September when Mr O'Brien's lawyers would inform the court if they would go ahead with the application.

A third man who was charged with Mr Whitla's murder was later shot dead.

Kevin Conway, 26, of Deeny Walk in Lurgan was killed at a bail address in the Greenan area of Andersonstown in west Belfast on 9 January.