Jury to resume deliberations in Dublin stabbing trial

A jury has begun deliberations in the trial of a man accused of a stabbing attack on children outside a Dublin school nearly three years ago. The jury deliberated for just over an hour on Tuesday before being sent home and is scheduled to resume its work on Wednesday.

Riad Bouchaker, 52, of no fixed address, is charged with eight offenses related to an incident on Parnell Square East in Dublin city center on November 23, 2023. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The charges include the attempted murder of three children-a five-year-old girl, a five-year-old boy, and a six-year-old girl-as well as intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to care worker Leanne Flynn. He also faces charges of assault causing harm to two other young children and a teenager, and producing a 36cm kitchen knife.

The trial, which began over three weeks ago at the Central Criminal Court, moved to closing arguments after the defense confirmed it would not call any witnesses. Prosecuting counsel Carl Finnegan presented the state's case, arguing that Bouchaker intended to kill the children. He urged the jury to consider the circumstances, including that Bouchaker obtained a lethal weapon,...