Murder accused told gardai he stabbed man 'in own defence'

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A 33-year-old Polish man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a 24-year-old at Carrabeg Estate in Swinford, Co Mayo on 16 November 2020. The Central Criminal Court heard that Matusz Batiuk told gardai he stabbed the deceased in self-defence after believing his life was in danger. The prosecution contends that when Mr Batiuk retrieved a kitchen knife and inflicted a single stab wound to the abdomen, he acted with intent to kill. Evidence will include recordings of emergency calls made by the accused on the night in question and garda interviews. The court heard the deceased was intoxicated at the time and that there were no defensive wounds on his body. Expert psychiatric evidence concerning the accused's diagnosed schizophrenia will be heard. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring is presiding over the trial with a jury of nine men and three women. The case is expected to last two weeks.

Source: Courts News Ireland This page is a localnews.ie summary and index entry; the full original report may require a publisher subscription.

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Public source leads

Man accused of ‘savage’ murder in Co Mayo told gardaí he acted in self-defence - The Irish Times The Irish Times · Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT
Jury in murder trial hears Mayo man was stabbed 27 times - RTE.ie RTE.ie · Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT
33-year-old man on trial for 2020 Mayo murder - RTE.ie RTE.ie · Mon, 20 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT
Irish man admits drinking heavily before death of American woman ... irishtimes.com
Feb 13, 2026 · The accused insisted her death was accidental, rather than murder, and happened during an intimate encounter. He did admit drinking a significant amount...
Man charged with murder following Co Mayo death - RTE.ie RTE.ie · Wed, 18 Nov 2020 08:00:00 GMT
Man remanded in custody over fatal stabbing at house in Co Mayo - The Irish Times The Irish Times · Wed, 18 Nov 2020 08:00:00 GMT
Polish man intentionally 'plunged' knife into man's stomach, jury hears - BreakingNews.ie BreakingNews.ie · Mon, 20 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT
Murder accused was entitled to defend himself in his own home, trial told - BreakingNews.ie BreakingNews.ie · Tue, 28 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Related court reports

Key witness tells trial he broke into murder accused's home and stabbed him Courts News Ireland · 2023-03-22
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