Judge will accept majority verdict in Ray murder trial

Jury members have been told by the trial judge that he will accept a majority 10/2 or 11/1 verdict in the trial of a 52-year-old man charged with the murder of 89-year-old mother-of-five Josephine 'Josie' Ray at her home in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, in August, 2024.

Hasan Ali Gori, who was living at Ms Ray's home at St Joseph's Park in Nenagh, and was involved in a relationship with her daughter, Mary, has denied the charge during a three-week trial at the Central Criminal Court in Co Limerick.

The jury returned to court at lunchtime, having spent almost eight and a half hours deliberating.

Mr Justice Sean Gillane told the three women and nine men of the jury that the law allows him to accept a majority 10/2 or 11/1 verdict from them.

"Obviously, unanimity is great, if it can be achieved but, if it can't, we can take a verdict of 10/2 or 11/1," he said.