Man denies autistic teen murder bid
Ryan Craig, from Ashmount Gardens in the city, appeared in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court.
He is accused of attempting to murder Scott Vineer, who was 17 when he was attacked as he made his way home from college.
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Hide AdMr Vineer, who is autistic, was beaten and abandonded beside an empty showroom in Lisburn in September 2012.
Although no details of the incident were revealed during yesterday’s brief hearing, Mr Vineer’s failure to return home from college sparked a manhunt, which resulted in the teenager being found with serious head injuries in a disused showroom on the evening of September 7, 2012.
When he was charged with attempting to murder Mr Vineer on a date between September 5 and 8, 2012, Craig replied: “Not guilty.”
Judge Patrick Lynch QC set the trial date for April 20, but said the case will be reviewed again next month.
Craig, who the court heard was in custody for unrelated matters, was returned into custody by Judge Lynch.