The jury in the Melissa Mahon murder trial was today sent home for a second evening after failing to reach a verdict.
Just after 4pm, Mr Justice Barry White told the six men and six women to return to the Central Criminal Court at 10.30am tomorrow to resume deliberations after a difficulty arose in relation to re-playing video evidence to the jury.
Ronald McManus (44), also known as Ronnie Dunbar, of Rathbraughan Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering 14 year-old Melissa in September 2006. He also denies threatening to kill one of his daughters, Samantha Conroy.
Melissa Mahon went missing from the care of the Health Service Executive on September 14th, 2006. Her skeletal remains were found by gardai on the shore of Lough Gill in February 2008 after the accused man's daughter spoke to gardai.
The jury had deliberated for two and a half hours yesterday before going home for the evening. They resumed deliberations today at 10.50am but at lunch time asked the court to replay video link evidence given by Samantha Conroy.
The jury was moved to another court room to facilitate the playing of a section of defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC cross examining Ms Conroy in relation to the account of Melissa's killing given by her younger sister.
The jury then asked to see another section of video which could not at that moment be retrieved. Mr Justice White sent the jury home while attempts were made to resolve the issue.