THE JUDGE in the Westmeath cold-case murder trial has told the Central Criminal Court jury to treat the chief prosecution witness as an accomplice, as she was an accessory after the fact.
Veronica McGrath, the witness, is the daughter of Vera and Bernard Brian McGrath. At the time her father was killed she was engaged to Colin Pinder (47), of Liverpool, who has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Mr McGrath (43) by reason of provocation.
Mr Justice John Edwards was charging the jury at the end of the trial. Vera McGrath (61) has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr McGrath between March 10th and April 18th, 1987, at their home in Lower Coole, Westmeath.
Veronica McGrath testified that she saw the defendants beat her father with tools. She said she witnessed the disposal of his body by burning and burial, and helped clean up his blood afterwards.
“In the view of this court, Veronica McGrath, the chief prosecution witness, must be regarded as having acted as an accessory after the fact, to either the murder or manslaughter of Brian McGrath,” the judge said.
“The court takes the view that she must be treated as an accomplice.” He told the 11 jurors they should look for corroboration of her testimony. This should be evidence independent of her, should tend to implicate the accused, and must be credible. His charge to the jury will continue today.