Kildare body in canal case: Murder trial adjourned due to juror illness

An ill juror has led to the adjournment of the trial of a Dublin man, charged with murdering a father-of-one whose dismembered remains were found in a canal.

The trial of 50-year-old Paul Wells Senior was due to enter its sixth day before the Central Criminal Court this morning, Thursday, October 18.

Mr Wells, of Barnamore Park in Finglas, has admitted shooting dead fellow Dubliner Kenneth O’Brien and dismembering his body.

However, he has pleaded not guilty to murdering the 33-year-old at his home in Barnamore Park on 15th or 16th January, 2016. He claims that the deceased had wanted him to murder Mr O’Brien’s partner so that he could take their child back to Australia.

The trial began last week before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six women and six men. However, one juror was later discharged, after she recognised a person mentioned in evidence.

Justice McDermott called 10 jurors into court this morning and noted that they were awaiting the 11th member.

“I believe she’s unwell and it’s proposed therefore to adjourn the matter,” he informed them. “It doesn’t seem to me realistic with the information I have that she could return to us tomorrow.”

He asked them instead to return on Monday.