Cork murder trial: Judge addresses jury on legal issues and gives evidence summary

The jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering his wife by slashing her throat at their home in Wilton spent all of today listening to an address from the judge on legal issues in the case and a summary of the evidence.

Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford told the jury to return to the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork on Monday when the summarising of evidence will continue.

So far, the judge has reminded them of all of the evidence they have heard from the prosecution and on Monday she will go through the evidence of the defence, which consisted of the accused man himself giving direct evidence and being cross-examined. 

And there were two brief witnesses from India who gave evidence by video link on the accused and his employment in India over a number of years.

Regin Parithapara Rajan (43), denies the single charge of murdering his wife, 38-year-old Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani at their home at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork, on July 14, 2023.

Prosecution senior counsel Seán Gillane urged the jury to examine the evidence of the accused man purchasing the carving knife two days before his wife’s death and to consider the Google searches made by Regin Rajan including searches in relation to carving knives and prison conditions in Ireland before July 14, 2023.

Defence senior counsel Brian McInerney said to the jury: “It is a tragic case, it an awful case, a human life has been lost but I would urge you to consider this is not a cold-blooded intentional killing, it is not murder. Whatever it is, it is not murder. I urge you not to find him guilty of murder.” 

The case continues.