Noble trial jury retires for the night

The jury in the trial of a man and a woman accused of murdering the woman's partner was sent to a hotel tonight after failing to reach a verdict.

Jacqui Noble (aged 38), a former partner of the dead man, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, and Paul Hopkins (aged 24), a pub doorman, of Sillogue Road, Ballymun, both deny the murder of Derek Benson (aged 33) at Sandy Hill Avenue, Ballymun, on May 13, 2000.

At the Central Criminal Court Mr Justice Abbott sent the jury of seven men and five women to a hotel and they will return tomorrow to consider their verdict.

The State's case is that Jacqui Noble, a mother of one from Ballymun, contracted co-accused Paul Hopkins for between IR£3,000 (€3,800) and IR£5,000 (€6,300) to murder Mr Benson.

The prosecution says that she paid him £200 (€253.90) up front, the balance to be paid after the murder. At the time of the killing, he as working as a doorman in a pub in Drumcondra.