Jury to consider verdict on dismemberment murder trial
The jury in the trial of two Dublin sisters accused of murdering their mother’s boyfriend, before disposing of his dismembered body in the Royal Canal will rise to consider its verdict tomorrow at the Central Criminal Court.
Mother-of-one Charlotte Mulhall (aged 23) from Kilcare Gardens in Tallaght and Linda Mulhall, a mother-of-four (aged 31) from the same address have each pleased not guilty to the murder of 38-year-old Farah Swaleh Noor (also known as Sheilila Salim ) at Richmond Cottages, Ballybough on March 20, 2005.
The headless body of the Kenyan national was found in the canal ten days after the killing.
In her closing speech for the prosecution Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh BL told the jury that some of the evidence they heard had been “distressing, disturbing and shocking.”
She said the six men and six women must now decide what to make of the evidence and she said the prosecution would be inviting them to come to the conclusion that this was a case of murder.
However she told the jury members they must also consider the defences of provocation and self defence in relation to both accused.
Brendan Grehan SC for Linda Mulhall said whilst the two women were being tried together, the jury must consider the cases against them separately.
He said his client had been described by gardaí as a “genuine” person who genuinely told the truth and he said the jury could not be satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt she was guilty of murder.
He said his client had been frightened and there was a clear indication of a sexual motive on the part of Mr Noor when she said he grabbed her at her mother’s flat and would not let go.
He said the prosecution had also failed to prove that Linda Mulhall had caused the death of Mr Noor.
His head has never been recovered and the only evidence of the cause of death was injuries to the trunk.
He said the only evidence against his client was what she had said about hitting the deceased in the head with a hammer, and it was possible he was already fatally injured at that particular time.
He said it was open to the jury to bring in a verdict of ‘Accessory after the fact’ of the killing.
In her closing speech, Isobel Kennedy SC for Charlotte Mulhall invited the jury to conclude that her client had initially denied involvement in the killing in order to protect her sister, the one person who she was “utterly devoted to".
She said a finding of self defence could be used in relation to oneself, but also another person.
She said the defence of provocation could also reduce the offence of murder to manslaughter where there is a total loss of self control due to the words and actions of the deceased, and said the defence of ‘Accessory after the fact’ could also apply to her client.
She added that the Deputy State Pathologist had given evidence that neither of the two cuts Mr Noor received to his neck were the probable cause of his death.
The trial judge Mr Justice Paul Carney has begun setting out the law to the jury, which will rise to consider its verdict when this has concluded.
