A JURY has been continuing deliberations in the trial of the man accused of murdering former children's care worker Danny Fox.

The six men and women of the jury began deliberations at around 1.30pm last Tuesday afternoon (November 14).

Leighton Holt, 21, of Custley Hey, Stockbridge Village, denies murdering 29-year-old Danny in the early hours of Friday, September 2 last year.

The trial heard that Danny died from a wound from a butterfly knife described as "between a stab and a slash" at the junction of his chest and neck on the car park of Sports Direct on North John Street in St Helens town centre.

Yesterday, judge Mr Justice Neil Garnham told the jury that he would now accept a majority verdict of 10-2 or 11-1.

The jury restarted its deliberations shortly after 10am this morning.

Shortly after noon the judge said he had a note from jury which concerns manslaughter and self defence.

The judge said: "Your note raises questions in relation to self defence and manslaughter.

"Are there particular issues which I can provide further assistance with?"

The foreman asked for further time to come up with questions to put in a note to judge

The jury then retired to consider this and questions were drawn up for the judge.

Later two of the jurors were discharged, reducing the jury to 10; five men and five women.

The judge said he will accept verdicts of 10-0 or a majority of 9-1.

Judge Mr Justice Neil Garnham said to the jury: “On questions concerning reasonableness either of force or response, what is or isn’t reasonable is entirely for you as a jury to determine.

“You must remember that reasonableness must be assessed within the confines and facts and circumstances as Mr Holt believes them to be.

“Some of you are of the belief that using a knife is an unreasonable act regardless of the level of force.

That’s not acceptable because the reasonableness of any act can’t be determined but must be determined in accordance with my directions.

“You must assess the conduct and context of the evidence in this case.

“With regards to carrying a knife nothing has been deemed acceptable. Whether Mr Holt had a reason for carrying a knife is for you. However it is the using of a knife that must be assessed.

“It’s entirely a matter for you what constitutes reasonable force. You must decide whether the force used is reasonable.

“If Mr Fox was an aggressor and Mr Holt’s actions aggression was in response to that you must turn to my direction to self-defence.

“On the topic of manslaughter if the prosecution have not negated self-defence your verdict must be not guilty. Self-defence is a defence against all charges.”

Judge Garnham added to the remaining 10 jurors: “You must not feel any rush and particularly not to rush today. You have tomorrow and longer if necessary.”