Jury hears summing up in Diver murder trial

The jury at the trial of man accused of killing his wife ten years ago are expected to start deliberating on a verdict sometime later tomorrow.

John Diver, Kilnamanagh Road, Walkinstown, Dublin denies murdering his wife Geraldine at Robinhood Road, Clondalkin on December 2, 1996.

Ms Diver, who worked at the Coombe Women’s Hospital, was found with a tie around her neck, in the front seat of her car outside a builder’s providers around 10.40pm on December 2, 1996.

At the ninth day of the trial at the Central Criminal Court today both prosecution and defence lawyers summed up their respective arguments.

Following the conclusion of the prosecution’s evidence the court was told that the defence was not entering into any evidence.

In his summing up to the jury counsel for the prosecution, Mr Shane Murphy SC, said that when all the “building blocks of the case were put into sequence", there was “proof beyond reasonable doubt to return a verdict of guilty of murder".

Ms Diver clearly died a “violent and unlawful death", and the prosecution contended that her husband John Diver was the person responsible.

He had the motive, circumstance and opportunity to kill his wife.

Counsel for the accused, Mr Brendan Grehan SC said that the evidence “was not sufficient for the jury to return a verdict of guilty".

There was no direct or forensic evidence against his client, nor was their any admission of guilt.

He added that the solid building blocks on which the prosecution’s case was built on where in fact “very flawed".

It would be inherently dangerous to rely on what was circumstantial evidence.

The trial continues tomorrow when Mr Justice Philip O’Sullivan is expected to commence his charge to the jury, before they retire to consider their verdict.