The jury in the trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), will continue their deliberations on Friday after failing to reach a verdict on Thursday. The seven men and five women were sent out by Judge Paul Ramsey to begin considering the evidence at approximately 1:20 p.m. BST.
Sir Jeffrey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges, including one count of rape, stemming from allegations that he sexually abused two women when they were children. The trial at Newry Crown Court has entered its fourth week.
His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 60, faces five charges of aiding and abetting the alleged offenses. However, she was declared unfit for a conventional trial on mental health grounds and is undergoing a trial of the facts in her absence, meaning the jury will decide if she committed the acts alleged, but it cannot result in a criminal conviction.
On Thursday morning, the judge spent about two hours summing up the case, instructing jurors that they must be satisfied the prosecution had proven the case against Sir Jeffrey beyond a reasonable doubt before convicting. "That is the law," he said.
Sir Jeffrey, wearing a dark suit and a pink tie, sat in the dock with his arms folded as the judge delivered his remarks.
The alleged victims, referred to as Complainants A and B, both testified during the trial. Sir Jeffrey also took the stand over two days.
The Donaldsons were arrested at their County Down home and charged on March 28, 2024. The offenses allegedly occurred between 1985 and 2008.