The jury has begun its deliberations in the trial of a man accused of murdering his friend and dismembering his body.
50 year old Paul Wells Senior of Barnamore Park in Finglas denies murdering Kenneth O’Brien almost three years ago.
In January 2016, the remains of 33 year old Kenneth O’Brien were found scattered in different parts of the Grand Canal in Co Kildare.
A couple told the jury how they found the torso in a suitcase in Ardclough while other body parts were found in Sallins.
The deceased – Kenneth O’Brien – had been living in Australia and had only returned a few weeks before his death.
His friend Paul Wells Senior admits shooting him but denies murder.
He claims it was self-defence after there was a struggle over a gun because he was refusing to kill Kenneth’s partner.
The Judge told jurors there were disturbing elements to the case but he said the horror that might have been felt at what happened shouldn’t necessarily determine the guilt or innocence of Paul Wells.
The 11 jurors have three verdicts open to them, guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter or not guilty.
