Two defendants accused of murdering a man whose body was allegedly thrown off the Sliabh Liag cliffs in Donegal each claimed the other “did it”, a barrister has told the Central Criminal Court.
Bernard Condon SC opened the trial on Friday morning of Nikita Burns (22) and Alan Vial (39), who deny the murder of Robert ‘Robin’ Wilkin on June 25th, 2023 in Co Donegal.
Mr Condon said the prosecution case is that the two accused caused Mr Wilkin’s death having engaged in a joint enterprise with the intention to cause serious injury to the deceased.
Where two or more people set out on a criminal enterprise, Mr Condon told the jury each one is responsible in law for the actions of the other.
While the statement of one accused person cannot be used as evidence against the other, Mr Condon said in this case the jury will hear that each of the accused said that the other “did it”.
Mr Condon also pointed out that Ms Burns has pleaded guilty to impeding the…