Jury in Derry murder trial could retire today

The jury in the murder trial of Derry man Stephen Cahoon is expected to retire today to consider a verdict.

The 37-year-old admits strangling his pregnant ex-girlfriend Jean Quigley on July 26, 2008 but says it was manslaughter.

The mother of four's body was found naked and beaten in the bedroom of her home at Cornshell Fields, Derry.

Cahoon made history as the first person to be tried before a jury in the Republic for a non-terrorist related offence in the North.

He denies murdering Ms. Quigley.

He maintains after the former couple had sex, she shouted at him that the baby was not his and he snapped and strangled her.

The jury has been told it can consider in his defence whether he was provoked, but before they retire to consider a verdict Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy must first finish giving legal directions.