Court archive
Townspark. The Central Criminal Court
2018-03-05 · Longford
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rihards Lavickis, 25, ended without a verdict after the jury failed to reach a decision on the death of Akadiusz 'Arek' Czajkowski. Lavickis, of Annaly Court, Longford, had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the stabbing at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark, on November 1, 2016. The prosecution alleged Lavickis was a deliberate killer who lured the deceased with a knife, while the defense argued he acted in a 'tumult of emotion' after prior hostility. Following four hours of deliberation, the foreman reported the jury could not reach a unanimous or majority verdict. Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh discharged the jury and noted that a retrial may be ordered at the discretion of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The matter was adjourned to the next list to fix a date for another trial.
2018-02-27 · Longford
A jury in a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has been instructed to resume deliberations on Wednesday morning despite indicating to the judge that they had reached an impasse. The jurors had spent three hours and thirty minutes considering their verdict in the case of Rihards Lavickis, who is charged with the murder of a man in Longford more than two years ago. Mr Lavickis has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh indicated she would provide a further direction to the jury on Wednesday morning before they continue their deliberations. The foreman had told the court that the jury believed reconvening would be futile, but the judge suggested additional guidance might assist their consideration of the case.
2018-02-27 · Longford
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a 25-year-old Longford man charged with murder. Rihards Lavickis, of Annaly Court, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Akadiusz Czajkowski at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark, on November 1, 2016, but guilty to manslaughter. The court heard that Mr Lavickis admits to stabbing the 31-year-old. He claimed the deceased had previously demanded repayment of a drug debt and assaulted him, and that he armed himself with a knife intending only to frighten Mr Czajkowski after discovering his windows had been smashed. Mr Lavickis told the trial he experienced a loss of control upon seeing the deceased. Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh directed the jury that provocation could reduce a murder conviction to manslaughter. Deliberations commenced this morning, with jurors having spent approximately one hour and 33 minutes considering the evidence by lunchtime.