21/04/2006

Man cleared of musician's murder

One of the three men charged of murdering Londonderry blues musician Jim Gilchrist, has had the charge dropped by the High Court.

27-year-old Alan Luukas, a student from Rathlin Drive, Creggan in Derry, was one of three men accused of murdering the 63-year-old as he made his way home from a night out at a local motorcycle club on September 28 2005.

Mr Gilchrist's body was found later that day in the river Foyle.

A Crown lawyer today revealed that the Mr Luukas already had the murder charge withdrawn on April 13, however still faced a charge of threatening to kill a woman.

He was released on bail last month.

(EF/CD)

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