Eastman jury retires to consider verdict

The jury has retired in the trial of former Treasury official David Eastman, accused of murdering Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Colin Winchester in 1989.

Justice Murray Kellam concluded his directions in the final stage of the five-month trial on Wednesday, telling jurors the burden rests solely with the prosecution and it is not for Eastman to prove his innocence.

As a final act, two of the remaining 14 jurors were balloted out of any further participation in the trial.

The trial started on June 18 with 16 jurors, with two withdrawing earlier in the case.

Eastman pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Winchester who was shot twice in the head as he parked on the driveway next to his Canberra home about 9.15pm on January 10, 1989.

The prosecution alleges Eastman had developed a murderous hatred of Mr Winchester, who he blamed for imperilling his bid to rejoin the commonwealth public service.

The defence counsel told the ACT Supreme Court there were too many unknowns and gaps for the jury to find Eastman guilty.