THE TRIAL of a Co Tipperary man accused of murdering a 21-year-old man in Waterford city has been delayed.
Mr Justice Barry White told the Central Criminal Court yesterday that he was discharging a juror after he received a letter from the man’s employer stating that he was needed at work.
“These are tough economic times and nobody would want that any juror may feel he had to look over his shoulder, so to speak, and have other matters on his mind,” Mr Justice White told the court.
He apologised to the jury, but said the appropriate thing to do was to discharge the man.
“I am anxious that he should not be directly or indirectly under threat as regards his employment, especially in this day and age.”
Mr Justice White said the trial of Robert Devine (33), of Wheatfields, Clonmel, will get under way tomorrow when an additional juror will be sworn in.
The accused has pleaded not guilty to murdering Joseph Cummins at a rented house in Lower Grange, Waterford, on November 24th, 2007. Mr Cummins died shortly after he was stabbed several times.