Murder trial jury to be sent out

Jean Quigley was two months pregnant when she died

The jury in the trial of a man charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend has been told that the minimum verdict it can bring in is one of manslaughter.

Stephen Cahoon, 37, from Harvey Street in Londonderry, has admitted killing Jean Quigley, but denies murder.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy told the jury at Dublin's Central Criminal Court they may find him guilty or not guilty of murder, or guilty of manslaughter.

The jury is expected to be sent out to deliberate on Wednesday.

Ms Quigley's body was found at her home in Cornshell Fields in Derry in July 2008.

She had four children and was pregnant at the time of her death.

Last week, Cahoon's barrister said his client had instructed him to tell the court he "did put his hand on Jean Quigley's neck and did compress, or strangle it".

A forensic scientist also told the court that DNA samples recovered from the murder scene were linked to Cahoon.

After his arrest in Donegal Cahoon opted to have his trial in the Irish Republic.

Under the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act of 1976, suspects can be tried in the Republic for alleged offences committed in Britain or Northern Ireland.