Man denies wife's murder as trial begins

The trial of a Nigerian man who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his Jamaican-born wife has today opened at the Central Criminal Court.

Goodwill Uduchuckwu (aged 32) with a previous address at Royal Canal View, Royal Canal Bank, Phibsboro denies the murder of Natasha Gray (aged 25) at the same address on February 18, 2003.

Following brief legal argument this morning in the absence of the jury, Ms Pauline Walley SC opened the case for the prosecution.

She then told the jury of seven women and five men that the accused should be presumed innocent of the alleged offence, unless they were satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt by the evidence they will hear.

The trial before Mr Justice Kevin O’Higgins is expected to last between two and three weeks.