JUDGMENT was reserved yesterday in the trial of Mr Billy Wright a leading loyalist, and two other Portadown men. Lord Justice McCollum told Belfast Crown Court that, given the complexity of the two week trial, he wished to consider the case before delivering his verdict.
Mr Wright (36), of Hartfield Square, who is defying a UVF death threat, denies issuing his own death threat to a divorced woman, Ms Gwen Reed (42) after she identified two men as allegedly being involved in a punishment beating.
The men, Mr Trevor Buchanan (29) and Mr Dale Weathered (28), deny involvement in the attack in which Mrs Reed's daughter was injured while trying to shield her boyfriend.
Mr Patrick Lynch, for the prosecution, said that one characteristic common to all the defence witnesses, including Mr Wright, was their "staggering lack of curiosity and a staggering lack of communication with each other" surrounding events before the alleged death threat.
All three men have been remanded in custody until Lord Justice McCollum announces his verdict.