Jury to deliberate on rape case where woman later died

The jury in the case against a man accused of raping a woman who died a year later will resume deliberations today.

The jury in the case against a man accused of raping a woman who died a year later will resume deliberations tomorrow. Closing speeches were made at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork today.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt referred to eyewitness evidence that the defendant allegedly smashed a wine bottle and held it to the woman’s neck before the sexual activity at the centre of the case. The defendant denied breaking the bottle or threatening the woman in any way and said the sex was consensual. In terms of considering the evidence, Mr Justice Hunt said: “The bottle is the gateway to everything.”