Murder trial jury to deliberate for third night
The jury in the “headless body in the canal” murder trial was sent to a hotel for a third night tonight as the trial judge was told its members had come to a deadlock.
However, Mr Justice Paul Carney told the six men and six women last night that they should continue to consider their verdict. After the jury had deliberated for 14 hours and 37 minutes he told them: “You're not the only jury in the building deliberating for this time.”
He added: “There are five children who have a vital interest in this, as you know and we’re anxious to reach a conclusion. If you’re in any doubt as to the evidence you should resolve it in favour of the accused and if there’s any further help I can give you I’ll be delighted to do so.”
Mr Justice Carney made his comments on the third day of deliberations by the jury in the trial of mother-of-one Charlotte Mulhall (aged 23) from Kilcare Gardens in Tallaght and Linda Mulhall, a mother-of-four (aged 31) from the same address have each pleased not guilty to the murder of 38-year-old Farah Swaleh Noor (also known as Sheilila Salim ) at Richmond Cottages, Ballybough on March 20th last year.
The headless and dismembered body of the Kenyan national was found in the canal ten days after the killing.
At around 6.30pm last night the woman in the role of jury foreman told the judge “We’ve come to a deadlock. We have a majority but not the one brought forward by the court.”
Mr Justice Carney then urged them to make a final agreement and the jury agreed to deliberate for a further half hour. However shortly after 7pm the jury came back and the woman acting as forewoman asked that they go to a hotel for a third night.
She said: “We’re talked out. The air upstairs inside is blue and we wish to come back to this tomorrow.”
The jury will continue its deliberations today (Saturday) at 11am.
