‘Man found in wardrobe’ murder trial reaches closing stages

The trial of a man accused of murdering a neighbour whose body was found in a wardrobe has reached the closing stages at the Central Criminal Court.

Anthony Locke (38), of Ramillies Road in Ballyfermot, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christopher Jackson (53) at his apartment on Prussia Street, Dublin, between September 6th and 7th, 2012.

In his closing speech, prosecuting counsel Conor Devally referred to the evidence of Mr Jackson's partner, Barbara Staunton, and claimed the accused had participated in the attack by restraining her.

Mr Devally said that Ms Staunton was “unlikely to be imaginative in her use of words” and asked the jury to consider whether she could have made up a reference to “the scissor brothers”.

He also asked the jury to consider the evidence of Mr Locke’s cousin, who gave evidence that the accused told her: “We done it.”

The trial continues next Monday before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of six men and six women.