A jury was discharged last night after failing to reach a verdict in the trial of Mr Laurence Callaghan, accused of the murder of his girlfriend in Dublin three years ago. After more than six hours' deliberation, the jury of 10 men and two women returned to tell Mr Justice Carney they could not agree.
Mr Callaghan (33) had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied the murder of Ms Janet Mooney (29) in September 1996 at the flat they shared in Harrington Street. He was remanded in custody until the next list to fix dates for trials at the Central Criminal Court on October 28th.
The State Pathologist, Prof John Harbison, had given evidence that Ms Mooney suffered at least six separate injuries to the head caused by kicking. Mr Callaghan admitted that he caused the injuries and Ms Mooney's death, but through his barrister, Mr Erwan Mill Arden SC, claimed a defence of provocation based on his girlfriend's concealment of a £5 piece of hash. He also claimed he did not realise she was dead until after he had sexual intercourse with her body, which lay in the flat for three nights before Mr Callaghan brought gardai to the scene.