THE wife of a man convicted of murder on the evidence of UVF gun runner Lindsay Robb has demanded her husband's immediate release.
Mrs Susan Duffy, of Lurgan, said yesterday that her husband Colin (28) should be freed after the High Court revelation that Robb's evidence would not be relied on at Duffy's appeal.
A Crown lawyer said Robb could no longer be regarded as a credible witness following his conviction at Glasgow Crown Court last December when he was jailed for 10 years.
It was Robb's identification evidence which led to Duffy being convicted a year ago of murdering a former UDR sergeant, John Lyness, in 1993.
Yesterday's announcement that the prosecution was abandoning Robb's testimony followed a brief hearing in chambers.
The North's Lord Chief Justice, Sir Brian Hutton, explained that the court was going into private session to hear Crown submissions on non disclosure of documents considered sensitive on security grounds and the consequences if they were made public.
It was only after the court reconvened in open session that Crown counsel revealed that no application was being made in regard to Robb's evidence as it was not going to be relied on.
Mr Arthur Harvey QC, for Duffy, said he wished to reserve his position on other documents which the defence considered should be disclosed.
He said he would liaise with Crown counsel and added: "I don't think that should delay the hearing of the appeal."
The Lord Chief Justice said the appeal must proceed early in the new court term starting in September as there had already been a delay.
Mrs Duffy said she was disappointed at having to wait at least another two months before knowing what was going to happen.
"Why can't they release Colin straight away?" she asked. "It's just prolonging the agony for everyone and the sooner this whole episode is over the better."
About 20 members of the "Free Colin Duffy" campaign staged a demonstration outside the court.