The jury in the trial of Graham Dwyer has been sent home for the day without a verdict being reached. Deliberations will resume on Friday at 11.30am.
Mr Dwyer (42), an architect from Kerrymount Close in Foxrock, is charged with murdering childcare worker Elaine O’Hara (36) on August 22nd, 2012.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Ms O’Hara’s remains were found in forestry on Killakee Mountain, Rathfarnham, on September 13th, 2013.
This morning, the jury asked Mr Justice Tony Hunt to make a number of exhibits available. These were the knives involved in the case, the runner found with Ms O'Hara' remains, the rucksack which the prosecution alleged was seen being carried by Mr Dwyer out of Ms O'Hara's apartment at Belarmine Plaza, and the spade found near her body.
The jury retired at 11.04am. It returned at 12.34pm and requested a number of other exhibits. These were a hoodie, a white vest, and a bondage mask, all of which were recovered from the Vartry reservoir, as well as the tracksuit bottoms found near Ms O’Hara’s remains.
A further item - a letter to Mr Dwyer from his son Senan McShea in relation to smoking, which was seized from Kerrymount Close - was unavailable as it had not been shown to Mr McShea when he gave evidence.
The jury requested a larger screen for their work, which was required to examine “one particular image” more closely, the foreman told Mr Justice Hunt.
The judge ruled that there be no publication of the names or personal details of the jurors in this case. He said the jury was “engaged in important unpaid work in the public interest” and were private citizens.
Sending them out on Wednesday, after a charge lasting a total of 10½ hours, Mr Justice Hunt encouraged them not to give themselves an unrealistic deadline.
He emphasised how much was at stake and said if they had to sit past Friday, they should do so.
“It’s over to you. And I wish you well,” he said.
