A MURDER trial jury yesterday began hearing final arguments in the case of a Belfast man who denies killing his girlfriend.
The prosecution had claimed in Belfast Crown Court that after murdering Ms Sharon King (19) on October 13th, 1992, Mr Paul Toland (22) set fire to their flat to hide the crime. Mr Peter McGill, barrister, said suggestions that Ms King had started the fire herself and committed suicide were bizarre. But Mr Toland's lawyer accused the Crown of highlighting only that evidence which supported its case.
Mr Terence Mooney QC claimed there was evidence to suggest that Ms King was the author of her own destruction and that Mr Toland was innocent.
People living in the flat below, said Mr McGill, could hear the couple arguing "for some considerable time" and that Ms King was heard to say. "Let go, leave go", and that Mr Toland was heard crying. The evidence of the post mortem examination, although inconclusive as no exact cause of death could be determined, uncovered bruising about Ms King's head, chest and upper body which could have been caused during a struggle.
No soot was found in Ms King's lungs or airways, which meant she was dead before the fire started or that "she must have died at the very moment she set light to her bedding", said Mr McGill.
He claimed Mr Toland had killed his girlfriend and afterwards "he attempted to get rid of the evidence by burning the body".
Mr Mooney, defending, said the crown had failed to prove Mr Toland had killed his girlfriend, whom he had planned to marry. "There is evidence to suggest quite clearly that this unfortunate girl, in her own despair, caused her own destruction", said Mr Mooney.
The jury is expected to retire today to consider its verdict after being directed on the law by trial judge Mr Justice Higgins.