A knife-wielding killer yawned repeatedly as a judge told him he may never be freed from prison for his part in the barbaric double murder of two friends nine years ago.

Convicting 28-year-old Steven Brown of murdering Protestant teenagers Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine, Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Gillen warned him he faced being put behind bars for the rest of his natural life as a result of the “heinous” murders.

There were emotional scenes as the judge told Brown that given the evidence against him, he had no doubt he was guilty of killing teenage friends Andrew (19) and David (18) on February 19 2000.

At the end of his three and a half hour judgement, he said that having watched Brown giving evidence, he had “no doubt whatsoever that I had seen a man whose hands had been engaged in the executions of these two young victims”.

Brown, also known as Revels and from Castle Place in Castlecaulfield, stood in the dock totally impassive and yawning repeatedly as the judge delivered his damning verdicts.

However, the families of his two young victims could not contain their relief as they applauded the verdicts and wept dignified tears of sorrow in the public gallery from where they had witnessed every day of the trial.

Along with ‘supergrass’ Mark Burcombe and Noel Dillon, who has since killed himself, the friends had been drinking in Brown’s Tandragee flat when Andrew had spoken derogatorily about UVF commander Richard Jameson, who had been gunned down by the LVF two weeks beforehand.

Incensed by the comment about his friend, Brown hatched his plan to slaughter the teenagers and after driving them to the isolated Druminure Road just outside the town on the pretence of looking for a drugs party, butchered them with a large knife.

The friends were found lying on the blood-spattered road with horrific knife wounds to their throats and stomachs.

Burcombe, who was once a co-accused of Brown but turned ‘Queen’s evidence’, recounted to the trial how he saw Brown repeatedly drive the knife into David as he lay wheezing and prone on the ground.

As well as Burcombe’s evidence, the judge heard Brown had confessed to a woman he knew that he had been involved in the murders and that forensic evidence had been uncovered in the investigation.

Brown’s DNA profile was found on David’s jacket, tyre tracks similar to the Peugeot 205 car owned by Brown were uncovered at the bloody scene and pieces of green plastic from the top of an aerosol can were found at the scene with their matches discovered outside Brown’s house.

Following the guilty verdicts Mr Justice Gillen told Brown the only sentence open to him to pass was one of life imprisonment and added that he would decide at a later court hearing what his minimum tariff would be.

The judge warned, however, that while he was keeping an open mind, the killings were “one of the most serious murders I have ever encountered”, and so he was considering an option to jail Brown for the rest of his natural life.

In conclusion the judge declared: “I have no doubt whatsoever therefore that the accused was involved in a joint enterprise to murder both Mr Robb and Mr McIlwaine. In all the circumstances therefore I find the accused guilty on both counts.”

As he announced the guilty verdicts, family and friends of the victims clapped but were silenced as the judge warned them that “this is a solemn occasion”.

During exchanges with defence QC John McCrudden, the lawyer prevaricated whether to ask the court for probation presentence reports in case the contents would affect any future appeal by Brown.

Finally, Mr Justice Gillen told Brown: “The sentence I have to pass on you is one of life imprisonment. There is still a tarriff sentence to be imposed and I will do that on April 3.”

‘I won’t stop until every last one is in court’

Speaking outside Belfast Crown Court moments after the judge had delivered his guilty verdict Paul McIlwaine and his wife Gail spoke of their satisfaction after nine long years of campaigning for their murdered son David.

“We are just delighted. In saying that we had never any doubt that if we had got Revels into court, for this trial there would be this outcome. The unfortunate thing is that it should have been nine years ago, although there are issues we are going to take up at a later stage, but we are delighted with the judgment.

“The judge has been fair throughout and it’s a remarkable judgment and a lengthy one as well, and I would hope, given the nature of the injuries that were inflicted, something which the judge remarked on as well, it will reflect severely on the tariff that he sets.”

Asked how difficult it had been for them both to have to listen in court to how their son and his friend Andrew Robb were butchered, his weeping wife Gail said “it was just terrible”, while he added, his own voice close to breaking: “It’s been a very long struggle, very emotional because we didn’t think we would get to here.”

Mr McIlwaine said there were still “very many questions to be raised. I have no doubt there are a lot of people sitting thinking, with a sense of relief, that’s it, and it’s over, but believe you me, today is only the beginning of the campaign I have. I won’t stop until I have every last one of them into the courts.”

Commenting on the evidence of Revels’ former co-accused, who turned Queen’s evidence for a lesser sentence, Mr McIlwaine admitted he had “a lot of issues around Burcombe, I understand fully his evidence was used and was compelling as to the actions of Revels and Dillon, but his own role in the murders is yet to be explored. I don’t believe for one minute he told the complete truth.”

Asked what the past nine years have been like for the family, Gail said that they had had “our ups and downs, and things have been very, very hard and we have had our disagreements about things, but we were strong in ourselves”.

The families of David McIlwaine and Andrew Robb give their reaction as a man is convicted of double murder.

There was more than Steven Revels involved in my son’s murder.

What we have been told by ex-UVF men is that Mark Burcombe was told to hand himself in but he was told just to implicate himself, Revels and Dillon.

He could say whatever he wanted about himself to keep himself right but he had to name those other two and nobody else.

I would love the truth to come out so that everyone would know what these people are like.

It could have been anyone’s child that night.

He (Revels) is only one of a large group of people who were involved.

There’s people within this crime who’ve been protected from the start.

I’m so satisfied with what I have done but I’ve a long way to go and I will never stop.

I don’t have any qualms about how long it takes – I’ll follow it up until I get the rest of them.

A man has been found guilty of the murders of two teenagers in County Armagh nine years ago.

David McIlwaine, 18, and Andrew Robb, 19, were stabbed to death in February 2000 after leaving a disco. Their bodies were dumped near Tandragee.

Steven Leslie Brown, also known as Steven Revels, 28, of Castle Place, Castlecaulfield, had denied involvement in the double murders.

The judge said they were two of the most serious murders he had dealt with.

Mr Justice Gillen warned Brown he could be going to jail for the rest of his life.

Brown showed no reaction as the verdict was delivered at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday.

The families of both teenagers wept in court.

Suspect Steven Leslie Brown was interviewed by police investigating the murders of Portadown teenagers Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine, three days after their mutilated bodies were discovered on an isolated road in Tandragee.

Brown, also known as Steven Leslie Revels and from Castle Place in Castlecaulfield, was arrested on February 23, 2000.

INVOLVEMENT

He was taken to Armagh police station where he was questioned about suspected involvement in the murders of Andrew (19) and 18-year old David.

During interviews Brown told police that after finishing work on Friday, February 19, he went for a few drinks at several bars in Tandragee before going home to Sinton Park with his girlfriend’s brother, Noel Dillon.

The accused said he and Noel drank a carry-out at the house and when questioned about what happened in the early hours of Saturday, February 20, Brown said that around 3am two young men called at his door looking for a party.

Brown then claimed that he told the two men, who the police say were Andrew and David, they had the wrong house and advised them they were looking for the house next door.

When Brown was asked if there had been any physical contact between him and either of the callers, the accused told police, “I patted one of them on the back as he was walking away and said ‘you have the wrong house mate’ then he went on. I don’t remember which one I patted on the back.”

Brown also told police he first became aware of the murders of Andrew and David on the morning of Saturday, February 20, when he read about it on Teletext.

He was also asked by police why he thought he had been arrested in connection with the cut-throat murders. He replied by saying he was new to the area and a number of houses in Tandragee, including his, had been searched.

QUESTIONS

As the interviews progressed on February 23, 2000, Brown refused to answer a series of questions put to him by police, including allegations of UVF involvement in the murders, whether he had been told to keep his mouth shut, whether he was in fear of anyone or was being intimidated – or if he was “an innocent agent caught up in something”.

Brown spent a period of time in police custody but was subsequently released. He was re-arrested in November 2005 after two people came forward implicating him in the murders.

During police interviews four years ago, Brown made no reply to most of the questions put to him.

A man accused of a notorious double murder has labelled evidence from a woman he allegedly confessed to as “nonsense”.

Giving evidence at Belfast Crown Court on his own behalf, Steven Leslie Brown, 28, denied that he had confessed to a woman known only as witness F of murdering teenagers Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine.

He told defence QC John McCrudden he had told the woman that he had been charged with the murders at the time but that the charges had been subsequently dropped.

Brown, also known as Revels, from Castlecaulfield, claimed that what witness F told cops was taken out of context, telling the lawyer her allegations were based on what he told her the police had put to him during interviews.

Diplock, no jury trial judge Mr Justice Gillen has already heard that in her statement, witness F claims Brown told her one of the teenagers had tried to get away when he saw his friend being attacked but that “I got him and cut his throat and stabbed him”.

The statement continues: “He was begging for his life but Steven said he stabbed him and stabbed him and stabbed him until he was dead.”

However, Brown denied he had made any confessions claiming instead that her allegations were based on questions which the police to him “over and over and over again”

It is the Crown case that the victims were lured to their deaths after Andrew allegedly made a disparaging comment about the murder of Richard Jameson described in court as a ‘commander of the UVF in Portadown’.

Andrew, 19, and David, 18, were then driven to a remote road on the outskirts of Tandragee where they were repeatedly stabbed. They suffered multiple stab wounds including horrific injuries to their throats and stomachs.

The trial continues.

After being given inaccurate information several times, Paul McIlwaine was able to uncover the true figures through Freedom of Information Act applications.

A 28-year-old man currently standing trial for a brutal double murder denied the two young victims were in his house in the hours prior to their deaths, a court heard yesterday.

Suspect Steven Leslie Brown was interviewed by police investigating the murders of Portadown teenagers Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine, three days after their mutilated bodies were discovered on an isolated road on the outskirts of Tandragee.

Brown, also known as Steven Leslie Revels, from Castle Place in Castlecaulfield, was arrested on February 23, 2000.

He was taken to Armagh police station where he was questioned about suspected involvement in the murders of Andrew (19) and 18-year old David.

During police interviews, Brown told police that after finishing work on Friday February 19, he went for a few drinks at several bars in Tandragee before going home to Sinton Park with his girlfriend’s brother, Noel Dillon.

The accused said he and Noel drank a carry-out at the house and when questioned about what happened in the early hours of Saturday 20, Brown said that around 3am two young men called at his door looking for a party.

Denying the two young men — who the police say were Andrew and David — came into his home, Brown said he told them they had the wrong house and advised them they were looking for the house next door.

When Brown was asked if there had been any physical contact between him and either of the callers, the accused told police: “I patted one of them on the back as he was walking away and said ‘you have the wrong house’ then he went on. I don’t remember which one I patted on the back.”

Brown also told police he first became aware of the murders of Andrew and David on the morning of Saturday 20, when he read about it on Teletext.

He was asked by police why he thought he had been arrested in connection with the cut-throat murders. He replied by saying he was new to the area and a number of houses in Tandragee, including his, had been searched.

As the interviews progressed on February 23 2000, Brown refused to answer a series of questions put by police — including allegations of UVF involvement in the murders, whether he had been told to keep his mouth shut, whether he was in fear of anyone or if he was “an innocent agent caught up in something”.

Brown spent a period of time in police custody but was subsequently released. He was re-arrested in November 2005 after two people came forward implicating him in the murders.

At hearing.

The DNA of a man accused of murdering Portadown teenagers Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine was found on the heavily bloodstained jacket of one of the young victims, a court heard yesterday.

Steven Leslie Brown, who is also known as Steven Revels, is currently standing trial at Belfast Crown Court for the murders of Andrew and David. The 28-year old from Castle Place in Castlecaulfield denies the charges.

The pair were lured from a house in Tandragee and taken to a country road on the outskirts of the town where they were stabbed to death in the early hours of February 19, 2000.

Forensic experts gave evidence at yesterday’s hearing when it emerged DNA matching that of Brown was found in two bloodstains on David’s jacket. Andrew’s blood was also found on David’s jeans, prompting a forensic expert to conclude Andrew (19) was bleeding before David (18) was attacked and the blood was transferred from one victim to the other “from the weapon or the attacker.”

Colette Quinn, a senior scientific officer with the Northern Ireland forensic science laboratory, re-examined items linked to the murder in 2005 which were initially examined in 2000.

Among them were a jacket David was wearing and a red Peugeot 205 which at the time was owned by Brown.

Ms Quinn said several of the bloodstains on the jacket were tested, adding “DNA from two spots of projected blood found on the left front of the jacket” matched that of Brown.

She also told the court that a search of the Peugeot, including numerous swabs, was conducted. Ms Quinn revealed: “No DNA, blood, fibres or hairs linked Mr Robb or Mr McIlwaine to the Peugeot 205.”

Extracts from the BBC’s Crimewatch programme were shown in court on Monday as part of a double murder trial. [You may view this programme on our site here.]

The programme featured a reconstruction of the murders of teenagers Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine outside Tandragee in February 2000.

Steven Brown, 28, also known as Steven Revels, of Castle Place in Castlecaulfield, denies murdering the teenagers.

His former friend Mark Burcombe has been giving evidence against him.

Burcombe, who has already pleaded guilty to involvement in the murders, said Mr Brown and another man, Noel Dillon, who is now dead, killed the pair.

The defence have accused him of making up his version of events at the behest of the UVF in order to frame Steven Brown.

They claim he fabricated much of his evidence after reading police notes and watching the Crimewatch programme.

Burcombe claims he did not see the programme, but only heard about it.

However, defence lawyer John McCrudden QC said a lawyer acting on Burcombe’s behalf at a bail hearing in 2005 had told the court how his client had come forward after watching the programme.

He also claimed Burcombe had told a Christian community worker that this was when he had decided to give himself up.

Mr McCrudden also said a detective would tell the court how Burcombe had told him the day of the killings was the worst day of his life while watching the Crimewatch programme was “the second worst” day of his life.

Burcombe insisted he had never seen the programme until it was shown in court on Monday.

“I’m not here to frame anybody. I’m here to tell the truth of what happened that night – that Steven Revels and Noel Dillon committed a double murder,” he said.

Questioned by the judge, Burcombe said he had already been thinking about coming forward before he heard about the programme.

“I think it had all started when my partner had her child,” he said.

“I had stopped drinking and doing drugs. Over that period of time reality kicked in and just at that point, when that (details of the Crimewatch programme) came on the news, I had to speak to somebody.”

Burcombe, from the Ballynahinch Road in Lisburn, was initially charged with the murders, but pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Andrew Robb.

The case continues.