Courts / Carlow / Report

Attempts made to burn body after 'violent and sustained assault', trial hears

Date
2016-11-03

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Carlow

County
Carlow

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court trial in Carlow, two men, Liam Power (52) and Dzintars Sackalausks (33), are charged with murdering a 41‑year‑old Latvian man, Gints Intembergs, who was found dead on 16 September 2014. The prosecution alleges that Intembergs suffered a violent and sustained assault, dying from blunt force trauma to his head and neck, with a subdural haemorrhage causing death. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that the victim's injuries included patterned bruises suggesting impact with a shoe sole, a fractured rib, broken tooth, and severe facial trauma. She also reported evidence of attempts to burn his t‑shirt and other parts of his body, which appeared peri‑ or post‑mortem. Both accused pleaded not guilty to murder, with Power also pleading guilty to manslaughter, and both pleaded not guilty to assaulting a third man. The case is before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Attempts made to burn body after 'violent and sustained assault', trial hears. Charges or matters: murdering him at the deceased man's home in Graigowen, Tullow; murder but guilty to manslaughter; assaulting another man, Aigar Sildars, causing him harm on the same occasion. Procedural stage: trial

When:

2016-11-03 Publication

Why: She explained that the injuries to his head and neck had a patterned, striped appearance, indicating impact with an object such as the sole of a shoe. CNI source report

Case subjects

Dzintars Sackalausks

Accused

Charges: murdering him at the deceased man's home in Graigowen, Tullow; murder but guilty to manslaughter; assaulting another man, Aigar Sildars, causing him harm on the same occasion (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Liam Power

Accused

Plea: Not guilty

State Pathologist Professor Marie

Accused

Plea: Not guilty