One of the remaining five Co Antrim men accused of murdering 15-year-old schoolboy Mickey-Bo McIlveen was cleared of the killing today.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, was formally found not guilty by direction by the jury of eight women and three men at Antrim Crown Court today.
Mr McIlveen, a Catholic, died in hospital from head injuries on May 8th, 2006, the day after he was attacked in an alleyway in Ballymena.
Defence counsel Eilis McDermott had earlier asked that the teen be rearraigned on a charge of causing criminal damage to a gate which was also attacked on the night the victim was punched, kicked and hit with a baseball bat.
Following that guilty plea, prosecution QC John Orr told Mr Justice Treacy that he had been instructed to accept that plea and in the circumstances the prosecution would not be aducing any further evidence in respect of the murder charge and a lesser offence of affray.
The juvenile has been released on bail to the end of the trial of the remaining five accused four of whom still face the charge of murder.
Those still on trial for murder are: Jeff Colin Lewis (19) of Rossdale; Christopher Francis Kerr (22), Carnduff Drive; Aaron Cavana Wallace (20), Moat Road and Christopher Andrew McLeister (18), Knock Crescent, all Ballymena.
Paul Edward David Henson (18) of Condiere Avenue, Ballymena faces charges of affray and criminal damage.
Meryvn Wilson Moon (20), from Douglas Terrace, Ballymena, whom the court heard hit Mr McIlveen on the head with a baseball bat, is awaiting sentence having pleaded guilty to the murder.