The jury in the trial of a Mayo man for the murder of a Garda in Castlerea two years ago may now return a majority verdict.
Stephen Silver is charged with the Capital Murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan in Roscommon on the 17th of June 2020.
The 46-year-old bike mechanic has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility but denies the charge of capital murder. Mr Justice Paul McDermott had informed the jury of 7 men and 5 women at the start of this week that they must return a unanimous decision on one of four possible verdicts.
These included Capital Murder, Murder, Manslaughter or Manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Following over seven hours of deliberations, the Jury were informed earlier today that the option of a majority verdict is now open to them.
According to the judge, this means that a minimum of ten jurors must come to an agreement for it to be accepted. The trial has taken place over the course of the last seven weeks, with detailed psychiatric, eye witness and CCTV evidence heard.
The jury is now entering its 9th hour of deliberation at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
