Jury sent out to consider verdicts in Jeffrey Donaldson's sex abuse trial
Summary
The jury is now deciding the verdicts in the sex abuse trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. He denies 18 charges, including rape, related to alleged abuse of two women when they were children. The trial has been ongoing for four weeks at Newry Crown Court.Key Facts
- Sir Jeffrey Donaldson faces 18 charges: 1 count of rape, 4 counts of gross indecency, and 13 counts of indecent assault.
- The alleged offenses happened between 1985 and 2008.
- The jury consists of seven men and five women.
- The judge, Paul Ramsey, told the jury they must be sure beyond reasonable doubt to convict.
- Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, faces five charges of helping his alleged crimes but is undergoing a trial of the facts due to mental health issues and is not in a conventional trial.
- Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has testified for two days during the trial.
- The accusations were made by two women referred to as Complainants A and B.
- Both Donaldsons were arrested on 28 March 2024 at their home in County Down.
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