Courts / Carlow / Report

Murder accused told gardai he repeatedly kicked deceased and tried to burn him

Date
2016-11-04

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Carlow

County
Carlow

Summary

In a 2016 Central Criminal Court hearing, 52‑year‑old Liam Power, a man of no fixed abode, told Gardaí that he had repeatedly kicked a 41‑year‑old Latvian man, Gints Intembergs, before removing his clothes and attempting to burn him. Power claimed he had been "frightened" and "like an animal" during the incident, which took place on the night of 15 September 2014, with Intembergs found dead on the kitchen floor the next morning. Power admitted drinking about 16 cans of beer and smoking crack cocaine in the hours before the alleged murder. He also said he had used a lighter to try to set fire to the victim's privates, with co‑accused Dzintars Sackalausks (33) assisting. Power pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, while Sackalausks pleaded not guilty to murder. The trial continued on Monday before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused told gardai he repeatedly kicked deceased and tried to burn him. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to manslaughter at the deceased man's home in Graigowen, Tullow; murdering him; assaulting another man, Aigar Sildars, causing him harm on the same occasion. Procedural stage: trial

When:

2016-11-04 Publication

Case subjects

Dzintars Sackalausks

Accused

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

Plea: Not guilty

Liam Power

Accused

Plea: Not guilty