How this Trial of an Army Veteran Regarding Bloody Sunday Ended in Not Guilty Verdict
January 30th, 1972 remains one of the most deadly – and momentous – dates throughout multiple decades of violence in the region.
Within the community where events unfolded – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are painted on the structures and etched in people's minds.
A public gathering was held on a cold but bright day in the city.
The march was opposing the practice of detention without trial – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been implemented after three years of conflict.
Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment shot dead multiple civilians in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.
A specific visual became particularly prominent.
Images showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained cloth while attempting to protect a assembly transporting a youth, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.
Journalists captured extensive video on the day.
The archive includes Father Daly informing a journalist that soldiers "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the gunfire.
That version of the incident was rejected by the initial investigation.
The initial inquiry concluded the Army had been attacked first.
In the resolution efforts, the ruling party set up another inquiry, in response to advocacy by family members, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.
During 2010, the findings by Lord Saville said that generally, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had posed any threat.
The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, issued an apology in the House of Commons – declaring killings were "unjustified and unjustifiable."
Authorities commenced look into the incident.
A military veteran, known as the defendant, was brought to trial for killing.
Indictments were filed regarding the killings of James Wray, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.
Soldier F was additionally charged of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unnamed civilian.
Exists a court ruling protecting the defendant's privacy, which his lawyers have argued is necessary because he is at threat.
He told the examination that he had only fired at people who were possessing firearms.
This assertion was disputed in the final report.
Material from the investigation was unable to be used straightforwardly as evidence in the legal proceedings.
In the dock, the defendant was screened from view behind a blue curtain.
He addressed the court for the first time in the proceedings at a proceeding in that month, to reply "not guilty" when the charges were presented.
Kin of those who were killed on that day made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the proceedings.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was died, said they always knew that attending the case would be emotional.
"I can see the events in my recollection," John said, as we visited the main locations discussed in the trial – from Rossville Street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where the individual and the second person were fatally wounded.
"It returns me to my location that day.
"I helped to carry the victim and lay him in the vehicle.
"I relived every moment during the testimony.
"Despite enduring all that – it's still worthwhile for me."