Put murder accused punching barrister out of your mind, jury told

A jury has been told to put the fact a murder accused punched the prosecuting barrister in the face out of their minds when considering their verdict.

Vesel Jahiri punched prosecuting barrister Mr Patrick Marrinan SC in the face in the Central Criminal Court last Friday. He then then leapt across the court benches before being wrestled to the ground by five prison officers.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey later told the jury that the accused had been removed from the court and he then proceeded to charge the jury in his absence.

Mr Jahiri (35), originally from Kosovo but of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Anna Finnegan (25) at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 on September 21st, 2012.

He has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Karl Finnegan, causing him harm, at the same place on the same date.

Concluding his charge to the jury on Monday, Mr Justice Coffey said it is the prosecution’s case that Mr Jahiri murdered Ms Finnegan and assaulted Mr Finnegan on the date in question. He said the accused had alleged there were two knives at the scene which the prosecution invited the jury to reject.

The judge said the prosecution case was primarily advanced by Mr Finnegan’s evidence. He also said the prosecution placed particular emphasis on the evidence given by Korill Allen.

Mr Allen, a security officer attached to James Connolly Memorial Hospital, told the jury he was in the process of lifting Ms Finnegan from the ground onto a trolley when she pointed at the accused and said: “He did it.”

Evidential value

Mr Justice Coffey said the jury must “put out of” their mind what occurred in court last Friday as it had no evidential value in the case.

He said the accused’s case is that he did not stab Ms Finnegan and was not guilty of murder. The judge said there were three verdicts the jury could return; guilty of murder, not guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

The judge said it is Mr Jahiri’s case that he stabbed Mr Finnegan in self-defence and is not guilty of assault causing harm. He said it is Mr Jahiri’s case that he did not have a knife when he entered Allendale Glen and although he did not see it happen, Mr Finnegan must have accidentally stabbed Ms Finnegan when she intervened in the tussle between them.

If he was acting in self-defence and used no more force than was necessary, they should find him not guilty. If the prosecution has proven that he intended to cause harm and was not acting in self-defence they should find him guilty.

The judge said the jury’s “real battle” would be establishing who was the aggressor in the case and how many knives were at the scene.

“It is for you to decide what issues are relevant and what evidence you accept and reject,” he said.

The judge said it may assist the jury to go about their task by putting to one side the facts that are not in dispute in the case.

Mr Justice Coffey told the jury of eight men and two women that they must be unanimous in their decision in respect of both counts.

On Monday afternoon, the foreman of the jury asked if they could rehear the 999 call made by Mr Jahiri on September 21st.

Garda Ryan Breen previously gave evidence in the trial that he answered a 999 call at 9.22pm on September 21st from Mr Jahiri. The accused can be heard saying in the call that Karl Finnegan tried to attack him with a knife. Mr Jahiri said to Gda Breen that he could not tell him where he was but he would call into Blanchardstown Garda Station the following day.

The jury has spent one hour and 35 minutes considering its verdict and will resume its deliberations on Tuesday.