A lost police gun was used to murder a 30-year-old man in Strabane, Co Tyrone, on Monday, the RUC said yesterday.
Forensic tests showed Mr Christopher Folliard was shot by a Heckler and Koch MP-5 machine pistol which had been lost by RUC officers in the town in May 2000.
Dissident republicans have been blamed for killing Mr Folliard, who was shot as he sat in a car outside his girlfriend's house.
Two RUC officers had been charged with disciplinary offences in relation to the lost firearm.
