Belfast man was 'stabbed before he was shot,' says lawyer

Kelly Bonner
BBC News NI
Family handout John George is smiling into the camera. He's wearing a black cap, with a design on it, and a navy top and a checked scarf.

Family handout

An autopsy carried out on murdered west Belfast man, John George, showed he was stabbed before being shot, according to the family's solicitor.

"We can confirm the family have received an autopsy report from the Spanish authorities," said Kevin Winters.

"The findings point to John having been stabbed before being shot," he added.

He said that as a precautionary measure and in order to make sure there was clarity on the cause of death "we have instructed another pathologist to conduct a second autopsy on Johns remains".

A second autopsy is to be conducted next week.

Pacemaker John George is smiling at the camera and wearing a suit and tie. He has a flower on his lapel.Pacemaker
John George's body was found by Spanish police in Rojales

The news comes as an international arrest warrant was issued by Spanish authorities for the man suspected of murdering the 37-year-old father of two.

Earlier this month, a thirty-two-year-old man from the Czech Republic was bailed by a judge under strict conditions.

He is being investigated as an alleged accomplice for the murder.

Spanish authorities have now confirmed three separate arrest warrants are now out for the individual suspected of carrying out the murder.