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| Moira accused will not face court | Moira accused will not face court |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Moira Jones murder trial has been adjourned after the accused refused to appear in court. | The Moira Jones murder trial has been adjourned after the accused refused to appear in court. |
| It comes a day after Marek Harcar, 33, refused to wear headphones which allow him to hear translations of proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow. | It comes a day after Marek Harcar, 33, refused to wear headphones which allow him to hear translations of proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow. |
| The Slovakian has lodged defences of incrimination and alibi, blaming three others for the murder of Ms Jones, who was originally from Staffordshire. | |
| The body of the 40-year-old was found in Queen's Park, Glasgow, last May. | |
| Judge Lord Bracadale addressed the jury on Thursday and explained why they had not heard evidence for two days. | Judge Lord Bracadale addressed the jury on Thursday and explained why they had not heard evidence for two days. |
| "I am sorry that you have been inconvenienced yesterday and today and I thank you for your considerable patience," he said. | "I am sorry that you have been inconvenienced yesterday and today and I thank you for your considerable patience," he said. |
| If he persists in his refusal to attend, I will consider if the trial can proceed in his absence Lord Bracadale "Yesterday a difficulty arose because the accused refused to wear headphones given to him for simultaneous translation. | If he persists in his refusal to attend, I will consider if the trial can proceed in his absence Lord Bracadale "Yesterday a difficulty arose because the accused refused to wear headphones given to him for simultaneous translation. |
| "That raised serious issues in a trial where an accused does not speak English. | "That raised serious issues in a trial where an accused does not speak English. |
| "Time was required to address this issue and case was adjourned yesterday until this morning in your absence." | "Time was required to address this issue and case was adjourned yesterday until this morning in your absence." |
| Lord Bracadale then explained that Mr Harcar had refused to come to court on Thursday. | Lord Bracadale then explained that Mr Harcar had refused to come to court on Thursday. |
| He told the jury that under certain circumstances he had the power to allow a trial to continue without the accused being present. | He told the jury that under certain circumstances he had the power to allow a trial to continue without the accused being present. |
| Before adjourning the case until Friday, the judge added: "I am giving the accused an opportunity to consider his position overnight. | Before adjourning the case until Friday, the judge added: "I am giving the accused an opportunity to consider his position overnight. |
| "If he persists in his refusal to attend, I will consider if the trial can proceed in his absence." | "If he persists in his refusal to attend, I will consider if the trial can proceed in his absence." |
| The trial before Lord Bracadale is expected to last until early AprilMr Harcar is alleged to have abducted Ms Jones and forced her to enter Queen's Park on 28 or 29 May 2008. | The trial before Lord Bracadale is expected to last until early AprilMr Harcar is alleged to have abducted Ms Jones and forced her to enter Queen's Park on 28 or 29 May 2008. |
| It is claimed that he forced her across the park against her will before he repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on her head and body. | It is claimed that he forced her across the park against her will before he repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on her head and body. |
| Mr Harcar is then said to have repeatedly struck the 40-year-old's body on the ground, forcibly removed her clothes, compressed her neck, pinned her to the ground and raped her. | Mr Harcar is then said to have repeatedly struck the 40-year-old's body on the ground, forcibly removed her clothes, compressed her neck, pinned her to the ground and raped her. |
| He is also alleged to have murdered Ms Jones and robbed her of two rings and three bags which included a camera, laptop and three mobile phones. | He is also alleged to have murdered Ms Jones and robbed her of two rings and three bags which included a camera, laptop and three mobile phones. |
| He denies all charges and has lodged special defences of incrimination and alibi. | He denies all charges and has lodged special defences of incrimination and alibi. |
| Mr Harcar has blamed three other men for the attack and claims he was elsewhere at the time it happened. | Mr Harcar has blamed three other men for the attack and claims he was elsewhere at the time it happened. |
| He is also charged with committing a breach of the peace by threatening to kill Lucie Pechtlova at a room in Queen's Drive on 29 May. | He is also charged with committing a breach of the peace by threatening to kill Lucie Pechtlova at a room in Queen's Drive on 29 May. |
| He is then accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by fleeing to the Czech Republic and Slovakia between 1 and 18 June last year. | He is then accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by fleeing to the Czech Republic and Slovakia between 1 and 18 June last year. |