There was a dramatic ending in Armagh Crown Court yesterday to the three day trial of a man who is deaf and mute accused of a sex attack on a former girlfriend. Judge John Petrie discharged the jury and ordered that the case against Mr Brian Sloan (53), of Abbey Park, Kilkeel, should be "stayed". He told jurors he took this course with "considerable reluctance".
He believed it was not possible for Mr Sloan to get a fair trial because of his difficulty in presenting his case.
Mr Sloan had denied indecently assaulting the 40 year old woman, whom he had dated for a few months when she was 14, at his home in April last year. Lip readers said there was a problem in ascertaining the accused's answer to questions and a difficulty in being sure that he understood what he was being asked.