Courts / Cork / Report

Murder accused smiled and told witness: "If I get a life sentence it doesn't matter"

Date
2016-10-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Cork

County
Cork

Summary

Brian Veale, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Graham Johnson, 31, at Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. The prosecution alleged an altercation over a television channel in the kitchen, after which Veale allegedly obtained a knife and stabbed Johnson in the chest. Witness Ming Feng Chen, an inmate, testified that Veale approached Johnson, stabbed him, then smiled and said, "If I get a life sentence it doesn't matter." Chen also claimed he feared Veale might harm him and picked up the knife. Prison officer Brian Forde recounted hearing a heated argument about the channel, seeing Johnson in distress, and observing a knife with blood on it. The case is before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with a jury of seven men and five women.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused smiled and told witness: "If I get a life sentence it doesn't matter". Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 16, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
May 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
November 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
May 16 Hearing Or Sentence
May 15 Hearing Or Sentence
2016-10-20 Publication

Case subjects

Brian Veale

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Mr Veale held the knife, which had a lot of blood on it, in his hand before dropping it on the ground, the court heard. "He (Brian Veale) then smiled at me, called my name and said: 'If I get a life sentence it doesn't matter'," said the witness.