Jury deliberating in staged suicide trial

A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a 34-year-old Latvian woman charged with impeding the prosecution of her boyfriend in connection with a death at Kilnaleck, County Cavan. The accused is charged with obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of a man she knew or believed had murdered her 49-year-old housemate in June 2014. The prosecution alleges she placed a cord around the victim's neck to simulate suicide and hinder the investigation. The defence argued she acted under duress, having witnessed the alleged killing. The judge instructed the jury to consider whether she had a reasonable excuse for her actions and whether duress applied. The defendant has pleaded not guilty. Deliberations commenced Wednesday and are to resume Thursday morning.