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Closing speeches to begin in Donaldson sex abuse trial

Julian O'NeillCrime and justice correspondent, BBC News NI
News imagePA Media A man with short, mostly grey hair, is exiting a car. He is wearing black-rimmed glasses, a blue suit jacket, white shirt and blue-patterned tie. The car behind him is black. Out of focus, in the background, are other vehicles, lampposts and shrubbery. PA Media
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson during an earlier court appearance

Closing speeches are due to begin on Tuesday morning at Newry Crown Court in the sex abuse trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

It's likely they will take a number of days to complete, before the judge asks the jury to retire to consider its verdict.

The former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader has pleaded not guilty to 18 sex abuse charges, including one count of rape, allegedly committed between 1985 and 2008.

The jury is also being asked to consider findings against his wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, in a trial of the facts. She denies aiding and abetting charges.

The defence closed its case on Monday.

The jury of seven men and five women were then told that closing speeches by lawyers will begin on Tuesday, starting with the prosecution.

Lawyers for Sir Jeffrey and Lady Donaldson will follow and are expected to conclude by Wednesday.

There are two alleged victims in the case, known as Complainant A and Complainant B.

Sir Jeffrey denies acts of gross indecency and indecent assault against Complainant A when she was a child, between 1999 and 2008.

He also denies other alleged offences dating back to 1985, including a charge of rape, against Complainant B.

Lady Donaldson is facing a trial of the facts after she was previously deemed unfit to face a conventional trial on mental health grounds, and is therefore not participating in proceedings.