THE Old Bailey trial of an alleged hitman, Mr Michael Boyle, has been halted after he sacked his legal team.
The move, which came yesterday before the first prosecution witness was called, resulted in the trial being put off until the new year.
The London Recorder, Sir Lawrence Verney, discharged the jury and remanded Mr Boyle in custody. The case will be mentioned again on October 25th when a new trial date will be fixed.
Pre trial legal arguments had already delayed the start of the trial of Mr Boyle (48), and his codefendant, Mr David Roads (51), accused of the attempted murder of Mr Tony Brindle (31).
During the prosecution's two day opening of the case the jury was told that Mr Brindle was ambushed as he walked to his car outside his home in Christopher Close, Rotherhithe, London, on September 20th last year.
The prosecution said he was shot twice by Mr Boyle, who opened fire from inside a parked transit van. As the victim turned and fled back towards his house, Mr Boyle jumped out and ran after him.
Moments later two marksmen from Scotland Yard's firearms unit, got out from a surveillance van and moved in to intercept Mr Boyle.
The court was told the two officers opened fire when Mr Boyle turned, gun in hand, towards them. Fourteen shots were fired at the alleged hired assassin, but only five struck their target.
The scene was captured by video surveillance cameras and played to the court at the start of the trial.
Detectives from the South East London Regional Crime Squad had been tipped off about a plot to murder three members of the Brindle family, involved in a bloody underworld feud with a family called Daly, in particular a man called Mr Peter Daly.
Mr Roads's alleged part in the affair was as to act as quarter master and armourer to the hit man. Guns and explosives were recovered from addresses linked to Mr Roads, the court heard.
Mr Boyle, of Tyrconnell Road, Dublin, denies attempted murder, and two counts of possessing firearms with intent to endanger life.
Mr Roads, who has addresses in Chaffinch Close, Shirley, Surrey and Prince Road, South Norwood, London, denies attempted murder eight firearms offences, possessing an explosive substance and handling stolen goods and documents.