Jury to resume deliberations on murder trial tomorrow

The jury in the trial of three New Age travellers accused of the murder of a Portuguese man in Co Waterford last year were sent to a hotel tonight after failing to teach a verdict.

At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin Mr Justice Kevin O' Higgins sent the jury of seven men and five women to a hotel after they spent more than eight hours deliberating on the verdict.

Graeme Turnbull (aged 36), with an address at Ballyhooley Rd, Cork; Steven Job (aged 31) of Whiting Bay, Ardmore, Co Waterford and Stuart Spicer (aged 28), with an address at Ballyquin, c/o Ardmore Post Office have all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Abru (43) at Clashanahy, Ardmore, Co Waterford between September 6 and 7, 2002.

The court heard that one of the accused, Stuart Spicer had begun a relationship with the former partner of the deceased, Ms Miriam Rooney, at a time when Mr Abru was in prison on charges of assaulting her.

A month after his release on September 6 he was seen arguing with Ms Rooney in Youghal, but later accompanied her and Mr Spicer, to a caravan park in Whiting Bay, Co Waterford.

The jury has heard that Mr Abru died from serious head injuries after being dragged to a field alongside the campsite where the accused men resided near Whiting Bay in Co Waterford.

The jury will resume their deliberations in the trial tomorrow.