Murder trial jury is discharged

The jury in the trial of a Derry man, who is charged with murdering his wife, was discharged yesterday on the third day of the…

The jury in the trial of a Derry man, who is charged with murdering his wife, was discharged yesterday on the third day of the trial.

Mr John Michael Crossan (38), denies the murder of his wife, Caroline, a mother of three, at their home in Clonliff Park, Derry, on October 4th, 1997.

The prosecution had claimed that the defendant had murdered his wife and then attempted to destroy evidence of the crime by setting fire to chip-pan oil. However the trial judge, Mr Justice John Shiel, discharged the jury yesterday, saying there was a problem with one of the jurors. The trial will now be held in Belfast court, on a date to be agreed. It is the third time that a jury empanelled to hear the case, which was expected to last up to three weeks, has been discharged.