The jury has been told it can consider an alternative verdict of manslaughter in the murder trial involving the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy.

Until now, the jury has been considering evidence to decide whether the defendant, now 16, murdered Christopher Mcburnie or acted in self-defence.

Schoolboy Christopher was fatally stabbed in Ramsey on May 29 last year.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admits inflicting the fatal wound but maintains he acted in self-defence. He denies murder.

The trial began on September 20 and has been running for almost four weeks.

Giving his initial directions to the jury on Wednesday, Deemster Graeme Cook explained that manslaughter was also available as a verdict to the jury.

He told jurors that if they found the defendant had not acted in self-defence but had not intended to kill or cause really serious harm to Christopher, they could consider manslaughter, which he said ‘is not on the information but is an alternative available to you’.

The deemster explained that manslaughter could apply where the defendant had not intended to kill or cause really serious harm but had deliberately acted in a way that a reasonable person would recognise could cause some harm, even if not serious.

Jurors were directed to consider murder first. If they could not reach a guilty verdict on that charge, they should consider self-defence. If self-defence was rejected, they could then consider the alternative verdict of manslaughter.

The defence case concluded on Wednesday with agreed evidence read to the court by defence advocate Siobhan Grey KC.

The prosecution delivered its closing speech on Wednesday morning, followed by the defence's closing submissions in the afternoon.

The deemster is expected to sum up the case on Thursday morning, with the jury due to retire around lunchtime to begin considering its verdict.