No California release for Fulton

By Patrick Markey

The Portadown loyalist linked to the death of human rights Rosemary Nelson appeared in a California courtroom on Thursday last week where he was facing charges of possession of marijuana for sale and possession of cannabis.

William James Fulton, who Irish and British sources have said is linked to Nelson’s murder last year, was held on $100,000 bail because prosecutors considered him a flight risk. Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Quinn Baranski said prosecutors also believed Fulton was a danger to the community because he was associated with the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

Prosecutors would not comment on whether they had been contacted by federal or British authorities. Chief Constable Colin Port, who heads the Nelson investigation, has told the local media he is aware of the arrest but has no plans to question Fulton, the brother of prominent loyalist Mark "Swinger" Fulton.

U.S. immigration officials are also waiting to question Fulton once Riverside County authorities have finished their case.

Fulton was arrested with his wife, Tanya, and three others on Dec. 16 after police were called to the Murrieta house where the couple were staying because of reports of gunfire. Police said one resident in the house admitted firing an air rifle outside. Inside the house police also found at least a dozen other weapons.

According to a Murrietta police report, a gun and case were found on the kitchen counter and another rifle lay on the stove. The kitchen floor was scattered with expended bullet casings.

Two women in the group allegedly admitted firing weapons out of the kitchen window, police said.

Police also discovered nearly six ounces of hashish and a small amount of metamphetamine and smoking pipes. Four of the adults were reportedly under the influence of what police called a "central nervous system stimulant."

A report by the local CBS TV news affiliate said the police had also discovered an inert rocket launcher and inert grenades inside the house.

Although Fulton had initially been charged with weapons offenses, those charges were dropped because of the nature of the devices, according to Baranski.

Fulton and his wife are still being held in the county jail and they have another pre-trial hearing on January 26, prosecutors said.

Nelson was killed when a bomb exploded under her car in March last year. A group called the Red hand Defenders initially claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion also fell on renegade members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defense Association, who oppose the Good Friday agreement