Murder trial jury considers its verdict

A murder trial jury has retired to consider a verdict in a case of a Limerick man who denies murder in the city in August 2001.

William Moran Jnr, aged 19, with an address at Parkside Bed & Breakfast, Clare Street, Limerick has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jonathan Edwards, aged 20, of Abbeyvale, Corbally, Co Limerick at St Ita's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick on August 28, 2001.

The deputy-state pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, found the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

Jonathan Edwards developed pneumonia when he was hospitalised with his injuries, and the pathologist found that the pneumonia was a contributory factor in his death.

The court has heard that Mr Edwards was struck with an aluminium bar, allegedly by the accused, William Moran Jnr during an incident on the morning of August 28, 2001.

The killing happened the day after Eric Leamey, a friend of the accused, was stabbed to death following a row over a dog.

It is common case between the prosecution and the defence that Jonathan Edwards was in the vicinity at the time of the killing of Eric Leamey, but the defence claim that Edwards was involved in the killing and that he threatened to do the same to William Moran when he met him on St Ita’s Street the following morning.

The prosecution, led by Ms Mary Ellen Ring SC, alleged that the killing of Jonathan Edwards was a revenge attack for the killing of Eric Leamey, whom the accused described as his "best friend".

But William Moran Jnr’s counsel, Ms Isobel Kennedy SC argued that the killing was either in self-defence – in which case she said the jury should acquit Moran of the charge – or was a killing with no intention to kill or cause serious injury – in which case she said the jury should return a verdict of manslaughter.

The jury retired shortly before 4pm today.