Jury out in case of man accused of San Francisco murder

TWELVE jury members were last night deliberating on the fate of an Irishman who faces 25 years to life in a United States jail after being accused of murder.

As William Monaghan’s defence team failed to call any witnesses on his behalf, the prosecution branded the death of a 30-year-old computer animation artist as a “cold, premeditated act of murder”.

Mr Monaghan, 27, is accused of throwing Swiss national Lionel Voillat from a cruise ship into San Francisco Bay during a Hallowe’en fancy dress party last October. His body was found three weeks later.

The Irishman’s mother, sister and two brothers travelled to San Francisco for the trial and were last night anxiously waiting to hear the verdict.

Monaghan’s defence, who earlier indicated they might put the accused on the stand, decided not to call any witnesses, preferring to put the onus on the prosecution to prove Monaghan’s guilt. If convicted of first degree murder, he faces the possibility of life but the jury may deliver other verdicts - second degree murder, voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.

In summing up, the prosecution said the defendant had been indifferent to the danger of throwing someone into the cold, dark water and was therefore guilty of murder.

Prosecutor Ann Gonzalez said Monaghan threw 30-year-old Mr Voillat overboard, then did nothing about it, including not telling the crew. He just went back to dancing and hitting on other girls, she told San Francisco Superior Court.

The Irishman’s defence lawyer argued that Monaghan was merely trying to prevent further violence after Voillat went “ballistic” with jealous rage, had punched him and tried to knee him in the groin.

Evidence was earlier heard that the confrontation began after Voillat had jumped to the wrong conclusion when he came upon his girlfriend, Viva Taylor, and Monaghan in an embrace on the deck of the ship, the Royal Prince.

Lawyer Kenneth Quigley told the court he acknowledged that Monaghan, a carpenter who emigrated to the US a number of years ago, went a little too far. But he added that Voillat “deserved to get wet. He deserved his dunking”.

“There’s been a tragedy. If you follow the law, there will not be a second one,” Mr Quigley told the jury.

“This was an accident. I can’t see how anybody can see this was murder.”