Juror discharged from murder trial
A juror in a trial of two men accused of murdering a Vietnamese man has been discharged from his duties at the Central Criminal court today.
Addressing the jury this morning Mr Justice Henry Abbott said it had come to the attention of the court that "a member of the jury was related through marriage to a member of An Garda Síochána who will give evidence as a witness in this case".
He decided to excuse the male juror from his duties and the trial will continue with just 11 jurors.
Mr Justice Abbott said his decision "reflects in no way against the good name of the juror concerned" and that the circumstances arose "entirely by chance".
The trial of two men accused of the murder of Vietnamese man Mr Luong Ly Minh (aged 50) entered its second day today.
Mr James Harmer (aged 26), originally from Stafford, England and Mr Noel O'Flaherty (aged 33) of McCormack Gardens, Sutton, Co Dublin have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Minh at Fownes St Upper, Templebar, Dublin on August 19, 2002.
Both also pleaded not guilty to the assault causing serious harm of Mr Dong Wei, a Chinese friend of the deceased, in the early hours of August 16, 2002.
The jury heard yesterday that Mr Minh died in hospital from his head injuries four days after the attack. He never regained consciousness.
The trial continues today before a jury of seven men and four women.
