Courts / Dublin / Report

Jury in grave digger's murder trial cease deliberating for weekend

Summary

The Central Criminal Court jury, consisting of eight men and four women, has paused its deliberations over the weekend and will resume on Monday at 10.30am. They have spent 11 hours and 39 minutes across three days considering the verdict in the murder trial of Martin Hayes, 34, who denies killing his partner, Amadea McDermott, 27, at her home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. The prosecution alleges Hayes stabbed McDermott and that she had previously been physically abused by him. Hayes claims the stabbing was self‑harm, citing a post‑mortem that the single abdominal wound could be consistent with self‑harm and that no DNA was found on the knife. The jury can return one of three verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. Justice Paul McDermott has asked the jurors to reach a unanimous decision.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury in grave digger's murder trial cease deliberating for weekend. Charges or matters: murdering mother-of-two Amadea McDermott (27) at her home in Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock on or about July 20, 2017. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• July 20, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2023-11-10 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report