Courts / Dublin / Report
Jury deliberating in trial of husband accused of murdering wife
Summary
During a trial that had lasted just over a week, Judge Tony Hunt instructed a jury of eight men and three women on how to decide the case of Alan Ward, 54, who was charged with murdering his wife, Catherine Ward, 41, on 1 March 2019. He explained that the jury could only find Ward guilty of murder, not guilty of murder, or guilty of manslaughter. The judge said the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ward intended to kill or seriously injure his wife. If that intent is not proven, the jury must return a manslaughter verdict. If intent is proven but Ward's responsibility is "substantially diminished" by a mental disorder caused by a 2017 stroke, the jury should also find him guilty of manslaughter. Ward had pleaded not guilty to the murder, to a threat to kill his son Adam, and to an attempt to stab Adam.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury deliberating in trial of husband accused of murdering wife. Charges or matters: the murder of his wife Catherine Ward (41) at their home on Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on March 1, 2019; an offence of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to his son Adam Ward, intending him to believe that the threat would be carried out and has pleaded not guilty to attempting to stab Adam Ward on the same date. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- March 1, 2019 Incident
- 2021-12-16 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the murder of his wife Catherine Ward (41) at their home on Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on March 1, 2019; an offence of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to his son Adam Ward, intending him to believe that the threat would be carried out and has pleaded not guilty to attempting to stab Adam Ward on the same date (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Greenfort Drive
- Dublin
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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