Latest news with #JusticePaulMcDermott
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Man pleads guilty to murdering father-of-two in Limerick city
A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of a father-of-two, whose body was found outside his killer's home by gardaí in Limerick city. Joseph Cahill (46) on Friday pleaded guilty to the murder of Gerard Curtin (42) on November 4th, 2023, at the defendant's address on Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, Limerick. Advertisement Cahill pleaded guilty when he was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Friday. Gardaí discovered the body of Mr Curtin outside Cahill's home in the early hours of the morning. Cahill was initially charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Curtin when he appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court sitting in Ennis on November 5th, 2023. However, he was later charged with murder in Limerick District Court on March 4th, 2024. Mr Justice Paul McDermott listed the case for sentencing on July 28th in order for reports and victim impact statements to be prepared. He will impose the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment on that date.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
What the jury didn't hear in the Richard Satchwell murder trial: how the husband tried to have murder charge withdrawn
Lawyers for Richard Satchwell unsuccessfully tried to have the murder charge against him withdrawn and substituted with manslaughter in the fourth week of the trial. Mr Justice Paul McDermott rejected arguments from Satchwell's defence team – made at the end of the evidence and in the absence of the jury – there was no evidence on which the jury could safely find Satchwell had the necessary legal intention for murder, to kill or cause serious injury to his wife, Tina . That was 'a huge lacuna' in the prosecution case, defence counsel Brendan Grehan argued. There was no expert evidence that Satchwell's account of how his wife died was not possible, he said. A belief by gardaí that she could not have died in the manner he described was not evidence, he said. READ MORE Satchwell had claimed his wife flew at him with a chisel and that he fell, and she was on top of him trying to stab him with the chisel. He said, in an attempt to protect himself, he was holding her up by the belt of her dressing-gown, which was around her neck, when she suddenly collapsed. If the murder charge was not withdrawn, counsel asked that the jury be directed to consider self-defence as a full or partial defence. [ Richard Satchwell found guilty of murdering his wife in 2017 Opens in new window ] Opposing the application, prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small said there was sufficient evidence from which the jury could infer intent to kill or cause serious injury. This included Satchwell's reply: 'Guilty or not guilty – guilty,' when he was charged by gardaí with murder on October 12th, 2023. There was no evidence on the cause of death because Satchwell buried his wife in a manner that ensured it was not available, Small said. There was 'a wealth of evidence' from the surrounding circumstances from which the jury can infer intent, she argued. There was also a potential motive: Satchwell said his wife was threatening to leave him and she had 'wasted 28 years' on him, the prosecuting barrister argued. Tina Satchwell In his ruling, the judge said it was exclusively for the jury, not him, to decide which elements of the prosecution evidence, including Satchwell's account, were to be preferred or rejected. He said that it was also up to the jury to decide any inferences to be drawn and the reliability and weight of the evidence. An intention to kill or cause serious injury could be formed in a moment or over time, he said. Evidence of intent is almost always drawn from surrounding circumstances and an accused's actions before, during and after the event. In this case, there was a 'prolonged' period before Tina Satchwell's remains were discovered and no direct evidence of cause of death. Because Richard Satchwell disposed of her body, there was no evidence of fractures, or of bruising, on the 'very small amount' of muscle tissue found on her remains, and no body organs. A motive was not necessary to prove intent but its existence might assist, he said. There were inferences to be drawn from Satchwell's actions and what he did at the time of the killing, he said. He had not called gardaí or sought assistance for his wife and had created the false impression she was alive from that day on, said the judge. [ 'Tina had no way of getting away from him': The full story of the Richard Satchwell murder trial Opens in new window ] There was evidence that Satchwell had, over years, told 'lie after lie', repeatedly saying she had gone away but he was willing to have her back while telling 'parallel stories' which 'destroyed her character', including scenarios of sudden desertion. There were 'quite cynical' attempts to engage her family's help in making public appeals, including asking her cousin Sarah Howard to take the freezer he had used to store her body. Satchwell had also said he was assaulted by his wife and suggested she had mental health issues. The judge said there may be a conflict whether some of these matters were true. His lies could properly be relied on as evidence to establish his state of mind at the time of the killing, the judge said. His attempts to avoid guilt appeared 'breathtaking and cynical' and the prosecution was entitled to rely on his burial of the body and the 'disrespect' in his wife being 'disposed of in a hole under the stairs that he cemented in'. Richard Satchwell arrives at the District Court in Cashel, Co Tipperary, charged in connection with the murder of his wife Tina Satchwell in October 2023. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire The jury was entitled to consider this as evidence of 'a degree of malevolence' and 'total focus on protecting himself against discovery' and might conclude it belied his asserted respect and love for her, the judge said. The jury was entitled to consider, in context, what weight to be given to his replies to gardaí in his October 12th, 2023 interview, including his reply when he was charged by gardaí with murder. It was for the jury to decide what his acts were and their 'natural and probable consequences', bearing in mind all the evidence. As a matter of law, the murder charge should not be withdrawn, the judge ruled. On Tuesday, after the judge completed his directions to the jury on the law and evidence, the defence applied to have the jury discharged that would have led to a fresh trial. Grehan, Satchwell's defence barrister, argued the judge's charge was not balanced and was akin to a second prosecution speech. He argued that it contained an excessive focus on the prosecution's interpretation of evidence. Small, the prosecuting counsel, said there was no basis for the 'last resort' discharge remedy, and the charge was fair and balanced. A vigil for Tina Satchwell attended by family and friends in Fermoy in 2023. Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision The judge rejected the defence's complaints and refused the discharge application but said he would address the jury on two additional matters. He did so, telling them that, in the context of Satchwell's potential motivation, and the context of whether he intended to kill or cause serious injury, they must bear in mind he had said he was besotted with his wife. The judge told them that Satchwell loved his wife notwithstanding a situation where, on his own account and that of some witnesses, he had been subject to violence by her, she had ceased sexual relations and he would have liked them to have children but she did not want children. The evidence was he 'attended to her in very great detail' and there was no evidence he ever assaulted her, the judge said.
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Jury in trial of murder accused Richard Satchwell continues deliberations
A jury is continuing to consider its verdict in the trial of murder accused Richard Satchwell on its third day of deliberations. The 58-year-old has denied murdering his wife, Tina, at their home in Co Cork in March 2017. Satchwell, of Grattan Street in Youghal, is accused of murdering his wife between March 19 and 20 2017. Tina Satchwell's remains were found under the stairs in the living room of their Co Cork home in October 2023, six years after Satchwell, originally from Leicester, England, reported her missing. The panel at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin was sent out by Mr Justice Paul McDermott shortly after 10.30am on Thursday. They have been deliberating verdicts for a total of four hours and 42 minutes since Tuesday. The time does not include breaks. The jury was previously told it must 'consider carefully' any reasonable possibility that what the accused says about his wife's death is true. It has also been told to consider the reasons why Satchwell went to elaborate lengths to deceive his wife's family and Irish police to persuade them that she was still alive, all while knowing she was dead. The judge told the jurors that there are a number of verdicts open to them, including guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter or not guilty on the basis of self-defence, which would lead to an acquittal. They have also been told to look at and examine all material and statements that have been put before them throughout the five-week trial. The jury has heard from more than 50 witnesses over the five-week trial, many of whom were gardai involved in the investigation. In October 2023, following a search of the property on Grattan Street, gardai discovered Mrs Satchwell's skeletal remains buried under the stairs of their home. Her badly decomposed body was found wrapped in a soiled sheet and covered with a black plastic sheet. She was wearing her pyjamas and a dressing gown, with the belt of the gown wrapped around her. The state pathologist Dr Margot Bolster said she could not determine the exact cause of death because of the advanced state of decomposition. During garda interviews, Satchwell claimed that on the morning of March 20, he found his wife standing at the bottom of the stairs with a chisel in her hand, scrapping at the plasterboard. He claimed that she flew at him with the chisel, and he fell back on to the floor. The accused further claimed that Mrs Satchwell tried to stab him multiple times with the chisel and that he grabbed her clothing and restrained her by putting the belt of the robe against her neck. Satchwell said that in a very short period of time, his wife went limp and fell into his arms. He then placed her body on the couch in the living room, before moving her to the chest freezer and then burying her under the stairs. It would be more than six years before gardai discovered her body.
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Jury deliberations in trial of Richard Satchwell adjourned for the day
The jury in the trial of murder accused Richard Satchwell has gone home for the day and will resume its deliberations on Friday morning. The 58-year-old has denied murdering his wife, Tina, at their home in Co Cork in March 2017. Satchwell, of Grattan Street in Youghal, is accused of murdering his wife between March 19 and 20 2017. Tina's remains were found under the stairs in the living room of their Co Cork home in October 2023, six years after Satchwell, originally from Leicester, England, reported her missing. The panel at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin were sent home by Mr Justice Paul McDermott shortly after 3.30pm on Thursday. They have been deliberating on verdicts for a total of eight hours and 37 minutes since Tuesday. The time does not include breaks. The jury was previously told it must 'consider carefully' any reasonable possibility that what the accused says about his wife's death is true. It has also been told to consider the reasons why Satchwell went to elaborate lengths to deceive his wife's family and Irish police to persuade them that she was still alive, all while knowing she was dead. The judge told the jurors that there is a number of verdicts open to them, including guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter or not guilty on the basis of self-defence, which would lead to an acquittal. They have also been told to look at and examine all material and statements that have been put before them throughout the five-week trial. The jury has heard from more than 50 witnesses over the five-week trial, many of whom were gardai involved in the investigation. In October 2023, following a search of the property in Grattan Street, gardai discovered Mrs Satchwell's skeletal remains buried under the stairs of their home. Her badly decomposed body was found wrapped in a soiled sheet and covered with a black plastic sheet. She was wearing her pyjamas and a dressing gown, with the belt of the gown wrapped around her. The state pathologist Dr Margot Bolster said she could not determine the exact cause of death because of the advanced state of decomposition. During garda interviews, Satchwell claimed that on the morning of March 20, he found his wife standing at the bottom of the stairs with a chisel in her hand, scrapping at the plasterboard. He claimed that she flew at him with the chisel, and he fell back on to the floor. The accused further claimed that Mrs Satchwell tried to stab him multiple times with the chisel and that he grabbed her clothing and restrained her by putting the belt of the robe against her neck. Satchwell said that in a very short period of time, his wife went limp and fell into his arms. He then placed her body on the couch in the living room, before moving her to the chest freezer and then burying her under the stairs. It would be more than six years before gardai discovered her body. The jury will return on Friday morning at 11.30am.
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Parnell Square attack trial must be given priority, says judge
The trial of Riad Bouchaker, who is charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children at Parnell Square in Dublin, must be given priority due to the youth of some of the alleged victims, a judge has said. Lawyers for Mr Bouchaker (50) told Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday morning that they are still waiting for a psychiatrist's report. Advertisement The Central Criminal Court has previously heard that a psychiatrist assessing Mr Bouchaker asked for a report from a neuropsychologist. That report has been given to the psychiatrist, who has indicated she will complete her report within three weeks. Mr Justice McDermott noted the age of the complainants and said the case must be given priority as soon as the psychiatric issue is resolved. He asked that everyone involved, including lawyers and professionals, "strain themselves" to ensure it gets on as quickly as possible. Ireland Girl injured in Parnell Square stabbing 'stands fo... Read More The matter will be mentioned again in June. Mr Bouchaker, of no fixed abode, is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy. He is also charged with assault causing serious harm to a care worker and possession or production of a knife. The incident occurred at Parnell Square on the afternoon of November 23rd, 2023. In February this year, the Department of Justice and the courts announced a protocol to fast-track trials involving children. The courts have committed to completing the trial process within one year, where possible, if a child is the alleged victim or perpetrator.
