A jury is due to begin its deliberations in the trial of a Polish man accused of murdering his girlfriend in north inner-city Dublin.

Waldamar Solowiow denies killing Mary Ryan at an apartment they shared on Sherrard Street in May 2012. She died in hospital on the morning of May 19th last year.

Gardai were called to her apartment after receiving reports that the 37-year-old has been badly injured. A post mortem revealed she died from a blow to the head and pressure being applied to her neck.

It is the case of the prosecution that Waldamar Solowiow beat her the night before after a row led to their eviction. However the 44-year-old Polish native strongly denies this.

He claims she was jumped by three men the night before she died and that he carried her to safety after fighting the gang off.

He told gardai that she refused to go to the doctor and he rang emergency services himself the following morning. The jury of eight men and four women are due to begin their deliberations today.