Jury sent home in attempted murder trial
The jury in the trial of a 20-year-old Dublin man accused of attempting to murder his brother-in-law has been sent home for the night after failing to reach a verdict.
Charlie Darcy of Crumlin Park, Crumlin, denies trying to murder Patrick Collins by twice firing a pistol at Mr Collins' head as he lay in bed with his wife (Mr Darcy's sister) and their two-week-old baby.
The jury of six men and six women deliberated for under an hour before it was sent home by Mr Justice Paul Carney. It will return tomorrow morning to complete its deliberations.
Mr Darcy is charged with attempted murder, burglary and aggravated burglary, in that he entered at Cooley Road, Drimnagh on August 31, 2008, as a trespasser with the intent to commit murder and had a firearm in his possession.
The jury heard that a gunman entered the Collins' home after midnight, put a semi-automatic pistol to Mr Collins' head and fired it twice.
The weapon jammed, allowing Mr Collins to jump up and run out of his house in his boxer shorts.
Mr Collins and his wife, Linda, both testified that they recognised the gunman as Mr Darcy.
In closing the case Michael O’Higgins SC, defending, said that Mr and Mrs Collins were unreliable witnesses and pointed out what Mr O'Higgins said were inconsistencies between what the gardaí were told and what the jury heard.
