THE jury in the Reece James murder trial has retired after the third day of deliberations.

The panel of eight women and four men have spent 17 hours so far trying to reach a verdict.

Kieron Wellington, Keifer Hutchinson, Wayne Stephenson and Jarome Parkinson are accused of murdering Mr James at a flat in Roumelia Lane, Boscombe on July 25 last year.

All of the defendants deny the charges.

The jury will be sent out for the fourth day on Wednesday at 10.30am.