Jury in Leisureplex-shooting case begins deliberations

The jury in the trial of a Dublin man accused of attempting to murder a Jordanian man by shooting him in the head at a Leisureplex in Dublin's Blanchardstown has begun its deliberations at the Central Criminal Court today.

Darren Larkin (aged 23), of no fixed address, denies attempting to murder Akef Alquasar with a sawn-off shotgun in the early hours of February 20 2006.

He also denies two further charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

Mr Justice Éamon de Valera cautioned the jury that there had been cases of identification in the past but he said that in this case recognition was a stronger form of identification.

Mr Alquasar earlier told the jury that he recognised Mr Larkin in the few seconds before he pulled down his hat on entering the Leisureplex on February 20, 2006.