Jury suspends deliberations in trial of man accused of murdering Tipperary grandmother

The jury in the trial Hasan Ali Gori, who is accused of murdering Tipperary grandmother Josephine’ Josie’ Ray just over two years ago has suspended its deliberations for the weekend.

The jury of three men and nine women returned to the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, at 11am this Friday to resume their deliberations.

The accused, 52-year-old Hasan Ali Gori, who is originally from Chad, is accused of murdering Josephine Ray at her home at 91 St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh on August 4, 2024.

The prosecution case is that the defendant, who was in a relationship with Ms Ray’s daughter, Mary, strangled and smothered the pensioner. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The jurors were, who retired to consider their verdict at 3pm on Wednesday, did not deliberate on Thursday as one of them was not available.

Following nearly four hours of deliberations this Friday, they confirmed shortly after 4pm that they had not reached a unanimous verdict.

Having noted this, the presiding judge, Mr Justice Sean Gillane adjourned the case until Monday afternoon telling the jurors they should only resume their deliberations at that point.

In his charge to the jury on Wednesday, Mr Justice Gillane urged the jurors to conduct a forensic examination of the evidence they heard during the trial and to “apply common sense” when deciding on a verdict.