2026-06-15
Judge criticises 'appalling' behaviour of violent criminal who 'upped and left' court before murder sentence handed down
Stage: Sentence
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Handing down the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder to Roche today, Mr Justice McGrath said the deceased had over 100 injuries to his body. "Effectively he bled to death and died from a savage beating at the hands of the accused Wayne Roche". They said Roche had shown no remorse for what he had done and "we as a family feel we have been handed the life sentence".; Earlier during today's sentence hearing Roche, who was sitting in the dock, announced that he didn't think he needed to be present in court, proclaiming: "Take me out or I'll forcibly remove myself." The hearing was adjourned until after lunchtime, when the judge said he wanted Roche to be given the opportunity to show "some respect to the court and more importantly to the deceased man's family'.