Jury in trial of man accused of murdering trespasser in his Waterford home begin deliberations

Judge said there were three verdicts the jury could return in relation to the murder charge against Dean Kerrie, namely: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty

Dean Kerrie took to the stand at his own trial last week, telling the jury that the deceased had kicked in the front door of his home, attacked him and threatened to kill his mother. Picture: Collins Courts

A jury has begun deliberating in the murder trial of a 20-year-old man who says he was protecting his home when a drunk fisherman entered as a trespasser.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon spent Tuesday explaining the law to the jury of seven men and four women following the two-week trial at the Central Criminal Court. She explained the defendant Dean Kerrie had raised the issue of self-defence and there was no burden on him to prove that he had acted in self-defence.