Courts / Carlow / Report

Blood found on accused's footwear matched deceased's DNA, jury told

Date
2016-11-02

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Carlow

County
Carlow

Summary

In a 2016 trial, Liam Power, 52, and Dzintars Sackalausks, 33, were charged with murdering Latvian national Gints Intembergs, 41, in Tullow, Co Carlow, between 15 and 16 September 2014. Power pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State, and not guilty to assaulting Aigar Sildars. Sackalausks pleaded not guilty to both murder and assault. Forensic evidence presented by Dr Brian Gibson showed blood on Power's white Adidas runners that matched Intembergs' DNA, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million of a coincidence. Blood on Sackalausks' black Nike runners matched Sildars' DNA. Annette Ford analysed bruises on Intembergs' body, finding patterns consistent with Power's footwear but not Sackalausks'. Detective Donal Lawlor testified that Power was present at the scene, had a strong smell of alcohol, and claimed he had kicked Intembergs' head. The case proceeded before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury of five men and seven women.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Blood found on accused's footwear matched deceased's DNA, jury told. Charges or matters: murdering Gints Intembergs (41) at Graigowen, Tullow, Co Carlow between the 15th and 16th of September, 2014; murder but guilty to manslaughter; assaulting Aigar Sildars, causing him harm at the same address and on the same dates. Procedural stage: trial

When:

September 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
September 16 Incident
2016-11-02 Publication

Case subjects

Dzintars Sackalausks

Accused

Charges: assaulting Aigar Sildars, causing him harm at the same address and on the same dates (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Liam Power

Accused

Charges: murdering Gints Intembergs (41) at Graigowen, Tullow, Co Carlow between the 15th and 16th of September, 2014; murder but guilty to manslaughter; assaulting Aigar Sildars, causing him harm at the same address and on the same dates (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty