The trial of Alan Vial and Nikita Burns, who deny murdering 66-year-old Robert ‘Robin’ Wilkin before his body was put over Ireland’s tallest cliffs, has been adjourned for ten days to allow lawyers in the case to address an issue.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott asked the jury of seven women and five men to “indulge” him by making themselves available from Monday, February 24 when the trial will resume. The trial began on January 17 and had been expected to conclude this week or next.
Mr Justice McDermott told the jury that issues sometimes arise during trials. The issue that has arisen in this case, he said, will take one week to address.
The jury agreed to make themselves available for the final stages.
Mr Vial (39) of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs and Ms Burns (23) of Carrick have both pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert ‘Robin’ Wilkin in Donegal on June 25, 2023.
The trial has heard that Mr Wilkin’s body was found in the sea below Sliabh Liag in Donegal eight days after his alleged murder. State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster said it was not possible to establish the cause of death due to the condition of the body after the time it spent in the water. The fall down the cliffs had also caused multiple fractures.
However, she found two depressed fractures to the back of Mr Wilkin’s skull that she said were not in keeping with the injuries sustained in falling down the cliff. A rock found at the top of Sliabh Liag which was stained with blood and had hairs with DNA matching that of Mr Wilkin was consistent with having been used to cause the two fractures, she said.
In her garda interviews, Ms Burns said that her co-accused struck the deceased multiple times on the head with the rock, causing his death. In direct evidence during the trial, Mr Vial said he was wrestling with Mr Wilkin when Ms Burns delivered two blows with the rock to the back of Mr Wilkin’s head, causing his death.
The prosecution alleges that Ms Burns and Mr Vial were engaged in a joint enterprise to cause serious injury to Mr Wilkin and that both are guilty of murder.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)