One of the four men who has been on trial in Dublin for the last six weeks in connection with the killing of student Brian Murphy outside the Burlington Hotel in August 2000 was yesterday convicted of manslaughter.
A second man was acquitted of violent disorder.
This morning, after spending a second night in a hotel, the jury of eight men and four women will resume its deliberations on the two other accused.
Dermot Laide (22) from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was found guilty of manslaughter by a 10-2 majority. He was also found guilty, by unanimous decision, of violent disorder.
Mr Andrew Frame (22) from Nutley Lane, Donnybrook, was acquitted of violent disorder.
Earlier in the trial he was found not guilty of manslaughter by direction of Judge Michael White, who said there was insufficient evidence against him.
Mr Desmond Ryan (23), from Cunningham Road, Dalkey, and Mr Sean Mackey (23), of South Park, Foxrock, are still awaiting verdicts on the charges of manslaughter and violent disorder against them.
Judge White remanded Laide on continuing bail until this morning to await the outcome of the jury's deliberations on Mr Ryan and Mr Mackey. He told Mr Frame he was free to go.
The four accused had denied charges of unlawfully killing 18-year-old Mr Murphy after a fight outside the Burlington Hotel on August 31st, 2000. The four former Blackrock College students had also pleaded not guilty to using or threatening to use unlawful violence.
Mr Murphy died from swelling to the brain caused by severe facial injuries after he had been attacked by a group of up to six youths following a student night out in Club Anabel in the Burlington Hotel.
Mr Edward Comyn SC, prosecuting, told the jury when he opened the case on January 13th that Mr Murphy died following a "short but sustained" attack at a time when he was "isolated and outnumbered".
There has been evidence in the trial that after the attack he tried to get to his feet but stumbled forward and fell on his face. Some of his friends tried to revive him but he was described as "unconscious and unresponsive".
He was pronounced dead in St Vincent's Hospital at 4.57 a.m. on August 31st, 2000.
The former Chief State Pathologist, Prof John Harbison, told the jury that Mr Murphy died as a result of "considerable violence" and his injuries were not consistent with a fall.
The court has heard evidence from over 100 witnesses during the last six weeks, over 40 of whom witnessed the violent assault. A number of them told the court they saw Laide punch Mr Murphy twice in the head before he fell to the ground. A former Blackrock College student, Mr David Cox, described the two punches as "strong and forceful".
Laide told the gardaí that he went into the fight because his friend, Mr Frame, was being attacked by a group of about four youths. Another witness, Mr Alan Dalton, told the jury that he also saw Laide punch Mr Murphy and that he kicked out at his shin area.