Killing of "true gent" was "deliberate and conscious", prosecution tell jury

A 31-year-old man from Cartron Estate in Sligo is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with murdering Martin Kivlehan, a 59-year-old musician, between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. The accused has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During closing arguments, the prosecution submitted that the defendant inflicted two stab wounds to the neck with deliberate intent and deadly precision. The defence argued for a manslaughter verdict on grounds of either provocation or lack of capacity to form murderous intent due to drug intoxication at the time. Defence counsel submitted that the accused had reacted in a drug and alcohol-induced state after perceiving a threat to his sister. Justice Carmel Stewart was due to charge the jury on Monday.