Boyd fled the jurisdiction by boarding a ferry from Belfast to Scotland just hours after he killed Mr Carroll. The defence said that Mr Carroll had let himself back into Boyd’s home after being ordered to leave just minutes beforehand. Counsel argued Mr Carroll had “trespassed” on Boyd’s north Dublin home and that the defendant was entitled to protect himself if he was under attack. Mr Carroll was also awaiting trial on a second unrelated assault causing harm charge at the time of his death. The witness said at the time of the murder, Boyd had two children but now had a third child.