How this Legal Case of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict
January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and momentous – occasions in multiple decades of unrest in this area.
In the streets of the incident – the images of the tragic events are displayed on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.
A public gathering was conducted on a cold but bright afternoon in the city.
The protest was opposing the practice of detention without trial – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been put in place following three years of conflict.
Soldiers from the specialized division shot dead thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly republican community.
A specific visual became especially prominent.
Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, waving a stained with blood fabric in his effort to shield a group transporting a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.
Journalists captured much footage on the day.
Documented accounts features Father Daly telling a reporter that troops "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.
That version of events was disputed by the initial investigation.
The initial inquiry determined the soldiers had been shot at first.
During the negotiation period, the administration set up a new investigation, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.
In 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that generally, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that zero among the casualties had been armed.
At that time Prime Minister, David Cameron, apologised in the House of Commons – saying killings were "without justification and unjustifiable."
Authorities started to investigate the events.
One former paratrooper, known as the accused, was brought to trial for homicide.
Indictments were filed over the deaths of one victim, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.
Soldier F was also accused of seeking to harm several people, additional persons, more people, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.
Exists a court ruling protecting the defendant's privacy, which his attorneys have maintained is essential because he is at threat.
He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were armed.
The statement was disputed in the concluding document.
Material from the examination could not be used immediately as testimony in the legal proceedings.
During the trial, the defendant was screened from view behind a blue curtain.
He spoke for the first time in the hearing at a hearing in that month, to respond "not responsible" when the allegations were put to him.
Kin of the deceased on Bloody Sunday travelled from the city to the courthouse daily of the case.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was died, said they always knew that attending the trial would be emotional.
"I can see everything in my recollection," he said, as we visited the primary sites referenced in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjoining Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were died.
"It even takes me back to my position that day.
"I helped to carry the victim and place him in the ambulance.
"I relived every moment during the proceedings.
"Notwithstanding experiencing all that – it's still meaningful for me."