Jury sent home in murder trial

The jury in a cold-case murder trial was sent home from the Central Criminal Court today so lawyers could conduct legal argument in its absence.

It was day five in the trial of a widow and her former son-in-law, who are on trial for the murder of her husband 23 years ago.

Vera McGrath (aged 61) has pleaded not guilty to murdering 43-year-old Bernard Brian McGrath at their home in Lower Coole, Westmeath.

Colin Pinder (aged 47) of Liverpool, England has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on a date unknown between March 10 and April 18, 1987.

The chief prosecution witness is Mrs McGrath’s daughter and Mr Pinder’s ex-wife, who says she saw the defendants bury her father in a shallow grave after beating him to death.

The trial will continue on Monday before Mr Justice John Edwards and the jury of four women and eight men.