The trial of a man accused of the capital murder of a garda in Castlerea over two years ago will enter its third week today.
Stephen Silver, of Aughaward, Foxford County Mayo, denies murdering Colm Horkan in June 2020- but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.
The jury of seven men and five women will resume hearing evidence this morning at the Criminal Courts of Justice as the trial moves towards its midway point.
So far a number of garda witnesses have given their testimony about the events of June 17th 2020, as well as civilians living near the scene of the fatal shooting.
The trial has heard that Mr Silver and another man were witnessed in a nearby estate prior to the fatal incident riding a motorbike.
The Central Criminal Court trial, being heard in front of Mr justice Paul McDermott, has also heard that Detective Horkan and the accused engaged in a physical altercation which was described by one witness on Friday last as 'a bit of a scrap' before the Charlestown native was shot a number of times.
The court also heard claims by Mr Silver that in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, he was unaware that Detective Horkan, was a garda, and made references to Black Lives Matter and claimed he had been attacked by the garda before the shots were fired.
The jury spent Friday afternoon watching CCTV footage of Mr Silver's movements on the day of the shooting and the trial continues today at CCJ.
