Jury continues deliberations in harbour murder case

A jury is continuing its deliberations in the trial of a woman accused of murdering her colleague by driving him into a harbour in her car.

Marta Herda of Pairc Na Saile, Emoclew Road, Arklow, Co Wicklow is charged with the murder of 31-year-old Csaba Orsos on March 26th, 2013.

The 29-year-old Polish waitress has pleaded not guilty to murdering the Hungarian at South Quay, Arklow.

Both were in Ms Herda’s car when it went into the water. Ms Herda escaped at the harbour but Mr Orsos could not swim and his body was found on a nearby beach later that day.

The Central Criminal Court trial heard that they had worked together. Ms Herda told gardaí he was in love with her, but she did not feel the same way.

She said he had spent two years following her, phoning her and sending her messages. She told detectives they had been arguing in the car when it went into the water.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sent the eight men and four women of the jury to begin deliberating on Monday morning.

He had told them that they had three possible verdicts open to them: guilty of murder, acquittal or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

He said that for a murder verdict, they must be satisfied that there was intent to kill or seriously injure.

He explained that for a manslaughter verdict, there must have been a high degree of negligence, such to cause a risk of substantial injury to others.

He told them their verdict must be unanimous.

The jury had spent six hours and 14 minutes considering their verdict before being sent home on Tuesday. They will resume on Wednesday.