Jury begins deliberations in marital rape trial

Husband accused of raping, threatening and assaulting wife as their marriage broke down

A jury will resume deliberations on Wednesday in the trial of a man accused of raping, head-butting and threatening to kill his wife.

The 42-year-old accused has already pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014. He denies raping and assaulting her as their marriage was breaking down over the previous five months.

The jury of one woman and 11 men spent just over two hours deliberating on Tuesday, the 11th day of the trial at the Central Criminal Court, after hearing a summary of the evidence from Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy.

The accused has pleaded not guilty to rape, assault causing harm and four counts of threats to kill or cause serious harm between May and August, 2014.

READ MORE

The jury has been instructed to find him not guilty on a fifth threat count.