Prosecution begins closing in Cork murder trial

The prosecution has begun its closing address to the jury in the trial of two men accused of murdering a woman in her Cork flat.

In the Central Criminal Court today Mr Alex Owens SC, told the jury they would have to consider "whether this was a one man job or a two man job".

Thomas Penkert, aged 20, and Brian Walsh, aged 24, are accused of the murder of Nora Kiely, aged 46, at her flat in Leitrim St., Cork city on July 15, 2002.

They have both pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but pleaded guilty to the theft of less than €20 in cash and two items of jewellery from Ms Kiely on that date.

Counsel rejected Mr Penkert’s claims to gardaí that his sole motivation was money. It was not, Mr Owens said, adding that his motivation was the killing of Nora Kiely.

Earlier, the jury viewed video recordings of the interrogation of Brian Walsh in which he told gardaí that he did not meet any of the other tenants on leaving the victim's flat after the killing.

When asked by gardaí if he saw anybody as he left the flat on the night of the killing, Brian Walsh answered no.

He told gardaí he walked down Shannon Street. When asked of his co-accused had left the flat at any other stage he also replied no.

The accused said he let him into the flat when he came back having opened the front door.

When asked what Nora Kiely was doing when they came in, he said she was just lying on the bed.

The trial continues tomorrow with closing speeches from the defence.