Judge Mr Justice Anthony Hart has refused to stop the case against Colin despite being urged to do so by Colin's defence.

Colin's barrister Barry McDonald applied to have the hearing halted on the grounds that the evidence against Colin was "tenuous".

However, Judge Mr Justice Anthony Hart refused the application

"This is not a case where at this stage there is either no evidence against Duffy, nor is it the case where the prosecution evidence has been so discredited or is so intrinsically weak that it could not properly support a conviction," the judge said.

"The application is accordingly refused."

It is the defence's argument that DNA found in the car could have been left there at a time entirely unconnected to the shootings.

But Mr Justice Hart, while reserving his final verdict, said: "When all the circumstances are taken together, they show at the very least that Duffy was in the car in circumstances that could lead to the conclusion that he was one of those who travelled in the car before the attack.

"His use of gloves indicated that he wished to conceal that he had done so and that he was therefore a party to and involved in the perpetration of and the execution of the carefully planned and murderous attack in which this car was used."

He added: "I am satisfied that the prosecution has established that Duffy has a case to answer, that he was a secondary party to this attack in that he either helped to prepare the car for the attack or helped to try to destroy the car after the attack."

The defence case by Colin's legal team has begun and the court heard from a sound analyst who said she could not identify his voice on a tape of the attackers speaking.

The trial continues on Monday.