Jurors in the trial of six people accused of murdering Carlisle man Lee McKnight have been sent home for the weekend.
The jury retired yesterday afternoon to consider verdicts in the case of four men and two woman on trial at the city’s crown court.
All deny murdering 26-year-old Mr McKnight, whose body was found in the river Caldew in the early morning of 24th July last year after he suffered a brutal beating at a Charles Street address. Each of the six — who include a father and his teenage son, and a mother and daughter — also face lesser, alternative charges.
No verdicts have yet been taken in the case. And this afternoon, the trial judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, told jurors it was time to “break off” from deliberations.
“That’s it for now,” he told the jury. “As you know, I have to say to you, please be very careful not to make any enquiries or research of your own over the weekend.”
Nor, added Mr Justice Hilliard, should members of the jury communicate with anybody about the evidence they have heard during the past seven weeks.
Deliberations are due to continue on Monday morning.
