The jury in the trial of a man for the murder of a Detective Garda in Roscommon two years ago has concluded its second day of deliberations.
Stephen Silver from Foxford in Mayo has plead not guilty to the Capital Murder of Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea on June 17th 2020.
The 46 year old motorbike mechanic has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
Following 7 weeks of evidence at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, the jury of 7 men and 5 women were charged by Mr Justice Paul
McDermott to begin their deliberations yesterday.
In his instructions to the jury last week, the judge informed them that they may return one of four verdicts.
These are capital murder, murder, manslaughter or manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
Extensive eye witness, CCTV, medical and psychiatric evidence has been heard over the course of the seven week trial.
Senior Counsel for the Defense, Rosin Lacey SC has argued that her client was in the midst of a relapse of a mental disorder when he shot and killed Colm Horkan two years ago.
Meanwhile, it is the argument of the prosecution that Stephen Silver had ‘significant functional mental capacity’ at the time of the incident.
Following seven and a half hours of deliberations over the last 2 days, the Jury have been discharged for the evening and are due to
resume tomorrow morning at 11am.
