Courts / Sligo / Report

Jury deliberating in trial of addict accused of murdering musician

Date
2017-11-24

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Sligo

County
Sligo

Summary

A jury at the Central Criminal Court is to resume deliberations on Monday in the trial of Keith Brady, aged 30 of Cartron Estate, Sligo. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter following the death of 59-year-old musician Martin Kivlehan at New Apartments on Holborn Street, Sligo in August 2015. The deceased died from two stab wounds to the neck. The defence argued that Mr Brady was too intoxicated to form the necessary intent for murder, and invited the jury to consider whether he was provoked by the deceased's alleged inappropriate conduct towards his sister. Mr Justice Paul McDermott directed the jury to assess the credibility of Mr Brady's account and whether provocation may have caused him to lose control. The judge instructed jurors to consider the accused's circumstances as a drug user rather than applying the standard of a reasonable man. The jury of six women and five men must determine whether the charge should be murder or manslaughter.