Jury told of right to clear Egan

THE six members of the High Court jury trying barrister Kevin Egan were advised yesterday of their right to acquit him at any stage by Deputy Judge Jones.

Egan has denied possessing a firearm without a licence, namely a pen gun.

The jurors were called into court after legal arguments in their absence and the judge told them as the Crown had completed its case on Friday they had a right to enter a verdict of not guilty at any stage of the proceedings from now on.

Deputy Judge Jones said he was not suggesting they should exercise that right. He was merely informing them of the right.

He reminded them that they could not enter a guilty verdict until they had heard from the defence.

It is now up to the defence to decide if it wants to call evidence. The judge adjourned the case at 3.30 pm, saying it was too late to start a fresh stage in the trial.

Egan's former Legal Department colleague, Warwick Reid, 45, has testified that Egan had a pen gun in his flat in December 1989.

Reid is serving an eight-year jail sentence after admitting a serious corruption offence.

The hearing resumes today.