A murder trial at Belfast Crown Court was dramatically halted today after one of the defendants confessed.
David Albert Taggart (23) from Riga Street in Belfast was rearraigned and admitted that he had murdered Mr Laurence Flanagan (64) in his South Parade home in April 2001.
During the week long hearing, the jury had heard that Mr Flanagan, a well-respected writer and former keeper of antiquities at the Ulster Museum, was left bound and bleeding to death in his hallway for up to three days after Taggart and his accomplice, Michael Anthony McDonnell (23) had broken into his house.
Assistant State Pathologist for Northern Ireland, Dr Alastair Bentley told the court that Mr Flanagan had died from massive bleeding onto his brain, adding that had he been found earlier his chances of survival would have been slim, leaving Mr Flanagan in a "vegatative state" for the rest of his days.
While being interviewed by police McDonnell, from Delhi Street in Belfast, laid the blame squarely at Taggart's door, claiming he had seen him "dance on the auld fella's head".
In contrast to his claims, Taggart told police that both of them had assaulted Mr Flanagan as he lay on the floor tied up with phone cable.
He made the claim they were looking for drink money when, as he described it, they went out "to do an auld burgle".
Both McDonnell and Taggart had already admitted to the burglary but now that Taggart has confessed to the murder, the trial against his co-accused has been postponed to Monday.