1 hour ago
Julian O'Neill Crime and justice correspondent, BBC News NI
PA Media
The judge in the sex abuse trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has sent the jury out to consider their verdicts.
Judge Paul Ramsey spent about two hours summing up the case on Thursday morning before instructing the seven men and five women to begin their deliberations at 13:20 BST.
The former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges, including one count of rape, arising from allegations he sexually abused two women when they were children.
The trial at Newry Crown Court is in its fourth week.
His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, denies five charges of aiding and abetting his alleged offending.
Earlier, the judge told the jury that the trial was now "reaching the closing stages".
He said jurors must be satisfied that the prosecution had proven the case against Sir Jeffrey beyond reasonable doubt before they could convict.
He added: "Only where you are satisfied beyond reasonable doubt can you convict … that is the law."
Sir Jeffrey, wearing a dark suit and a pink tie, sat in the dock with his arms folded while the judge delivered his remarks.
The alleged victims, Complainants A and B, have both given evidence at the trial.
Sir Jeffrey also testified over two days.
The Donaldsons were arrested at their County Down home and charged on 28 March 2024.
Sir Jeffrey, 63, is accused of rape, four counts of gross indecency and 13 counts of indecent assault.
The offences allegedly occurred between 1985 and 2008.
At a pre-trial hearing last month, Lady Donaldson, 60, was declared unfit for a conventional trial on mental health grounds.
She has not participated in proceedings and instead is undergoing a trial of the facts in her absence.
The jury will decide if she committed the acts alleged, but it cannot result in a criminal conviction.
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