Murder accused admits he killed pregnant woman

The trial of a man accused of murdering a pregnant woman has heard that he admits killing the woman.

Jean Teresa Quigley was pregnant with Stephen Cahoon’s child at the time of the alleged murder, the prosecution told the jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday.

Mr Cahoon, aged 42, of Harvey St, Derry, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Quigley, 30, at Cornshell fields, Derry, on July 26, 2008.

Micheal O’Higgins, defending, told the jury Mr Cahoon admits to killing Ms Quigley.

“He has acknowledged he killed Jean Quigley,” Mr O’Higgins said. “This does not amount to an admission he’s guilty of murder.”

Earlier, opening the trial, Patrick Marrinan, prosecuting, told the jury Ms Quigley, a mother of four, met Mr Cahoon on St Patrick’s Day 2008 and they quickly formed a relationship.

The jury was told they will hear the relationship “deteriorated” in July 2008 and, during a row, Ms Quigley told Mr Cahoon to leave her house and to hand over the key.

Mr Marrinan said: “One of the most important formal admissions is that [Mr Cahoon] killed Jean Quigley.

“It is not a case of whodunnit but a case of what was the intention of the accused man at the time of the killing. What was his intention at the time?”

The trial continues.