Courts / Dublin / Report

Jury in woman's murder trial ask if they can return a majority verdict

Summary

In a murder trial held at the Central Criminal Court, the jury was asked by Justice Margaret Heneghan whether they could return a majority verdict instead of a unanimous one. The case concerns Norma Phillips, 46, who is accused of stabbing her partner, 36‑year‑old Romanian Stefan Neanu, to death with a kitchen carving knife on 12 April 2015 at her former home on Phibsboro Road, Dublin 7. Phillips has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges that Neanu pointed the knife at her during a drunken argument and that she killed him when she pushed the weapon away in self‑defence. Justice Heneghan explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: guilty of murder if the prosecution proves intent and lack of self‑defence; guilty of manslaughter if she acted in self‑defence but used excessive force; or not guilty if she acted in self‑defence with reasonable force.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury in woman's murder trial ask if they can return a majority verdict. Charges or matters: the murder of 36-year-old Romanian national Stefan Neanu at her former home in Phibsboro on April 12, 2015. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• April 12, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2017-01-24 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report