Jury sent to hotel in Limerick murder trial

The Central Criminal Court jury in the trial of a Limerick student accused of fatally stabbing a 59-year-old man have been sent to a hotel for the night after deliberating for more than four hours.

Mr Joseph 'Jody' Buston, 21, of Towerfield, Croom, Co Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr O'Donovan at his home on St Senan's Terrace in the village in the early hours of November 4, 2006.

In his charge to the jury of six men and six women, Mr Justice Paul Carney told them they had a choice between a verdict of murder and manslaughter since the accused had admitted to stabbing Mr O'Donovan.

Mr Justice Carney said: "An unlawful killing can never be less than manslaughter. It is accepted that the battle ground here is between murder and manslaughter."

The jury will resume their deliberations in the morning.