Jury fails to reach verdict in rape and murder case

The jury at the trial of a 22-year-old Co Cork man accused of the rape and murder of Rachel Kiely will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow after failing to reach a verdict.

The man, who was 16 at the time, has denied raping and murdering Ms. Kiely, aged 22, at the Regional Park, Ballincollig on October 26th 2000. He has admitted the manslaughter.

This evening the jury of seven men and five women was unable to arrived at a verdict after almost three hours of deliberations.

They started considering the matters before them just after 4pm.

At 7pm trial judge Mr Justice Barry White decided that they should retire for the night.

The jury, in this three-week long trial, is scheduled to re-commence its’ deliberations at 10-30am tomorrow (Friday morning).