A man charged with murdering Mr Charles Bennett, whose killing was blamed on the IRA, insisted he was innocent, a senior RUC detective said in court yesterday.
The detective said he did not believe the accused man was involved in the actual shooting of Mr Bennett, but he believed that he could connect the accused man with the murder.
Mr Thomas Allsop (45), from Ludlow Square, in the New Lodge area of north Belfast, was said to have told the detective who charged him: "I am totally innocent and you know it."
Mr Bennett, who was 22 and lived at Upper Meadow Street, in the New Lodge area, was found shot dead on July 30th, a week after he was abducted.
His hands had been tied behind his back and his head covered in what police said was a paramilitary-style execution.
A detective inspector told Belfast Magistrates' Court yesterday that during police interviews at Castlereagh, Mr Allsop had denied involvement in the murder.
He was asked by a defence solicitor, Mr Kevin Winters: "Did interviewing police concede at any time that Mr Allsop had nothing to do with the actual abduction and shooting of Mr Bennett?"
The inspector replied: "I don't believe that Mr Allsop was involved in the shooting of Mr Bennett, and his exact role in his abduction is unclear."
When he made this reply a number of Mr Allsop's friends in court gave him a thumbs-up sign. But when the inspector added that he believed he could connect Mr Allsop with the murder he shook his head repeatedly.
Mr Winters asked if it was part of the police case that Mr Bennett may have been in a flat in the New Lodge area, and the inspector said that was correct. He said he believed Mr Allsop had been resident in the flat for several months but was not the legal tenant.
Asked about forensic evidence which could connect Mr Allsop with the charge, the inspector replied: "There is a substantial number of items and samples being examined at the Forensic Science Laboratory, and that examination will take some time to complete."
Mr Allsop was remanded in custody until August 25th and as he was leaving the dock Mr Winters said: "He has asked me to state that he is and never has been a member of any illegal organisation and the police are fully aware of this.
"As has been indicated to the court, he denies absolutely having anything to do with this offence and will be applying for bail in the near future."