Jury to retire in murder case

The jury in the trial of a Co Kildare man charged with the murder of his girlfriend is expected to begin considering its verdict…

The jury in the trial of a Co Kildare man charged with the murder of his girlfriend is expected to begin considering its verdict this afternoon. Mr Justice Budd will complete his charge to the jury this morning in the trial of Mr Stephen Davis. The 11 men and one woman will then retire. Mr Davis (20), of Clonmullin, Athy, Co Kildare, has denied the murder of Ms Mary Doogue (30), an unmarried mother of six, of the same address, in Athy on October 20th, 1995.

The 12 day trial heard that Ms Doogue and Mr Davis had had a relationship for two years and he was the father of her youngest child. Ms Doogue was pronounced dead in hospital on October 20th, 1995, from what the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, said was delayed shock due to subdural haemorrhage, a contusion of the larynx, a dislocated shoulder and a ruptured bladder.