The North's Director of Prosecutions is reconsidering whether to call the key witness in the trial of a man charged with the murder of Belfast solicitor Patrick Finucane 12 years ago.
The announcement came at Belfast Crown Court after the Lord Chief Justice asked the DPP to take a fresh look at its decision to call former reporter and NIO official Mr Neil Mulholland following evidence that he could become suicidal if forced to testify.
If the DPP decides not to call Mr Mulholland, it is considered likely the trial of former RUC informer Mr William Stobie will collapse.
The DDP's re-think came after the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Carswell, turned down an application from a lawyer acting for Mr Mulholland to set aside a witness summons served on him.
The judge, who yesterday heard evidence about Mr Mulholland's mental state, said today that it was not within his jurisdiction to make a ruling about who should or should not be called as a trial witness.
The case will resume next Monday.