Prosecution closes case in murder trial

The prosecution closed its case today against two Kerry brothers accused of murdering a man known as ‘English Jim’ in Killarney as the jury was told that blood of the dead man and of one of the accused was found on a knife.

Shane O'Riordan (aged 19) and Gerard O'Riordan (aged 28) of 26 Arbutus Grove, Killarney, County Kerry, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court where they both deny the single charge of murdering James Brazier, 30, – also known as English Jim - at a housing estate in Killarney on April 15 2007.

Yvonne O’Dowd of the DNA section of the Garda Forensics Science in Dublin told the nine men and three women of the jury that she inspected the knife found in long grass near the scene of the crime.

Dr O’Dowd testified that blood on the blade was that of Mr Brazier and blood on the handle was that of Mr Brazier and Shane O’Riordan, according to DNA tests.

State pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, testified that the cause of death was haemmorage, trauma and collapse of lungs due to multiple stab wounds.

The trial continues on Wednesday