Courts / Kildare / Report
Court dismisses assertion that prosecutors "ambushed" murder accused
Summary
The Court of Appeal has rejected claims that prosecutors improperly handled plea negotiations during the murder trial of Darren Wynne. Wynne, aged 23 from Ballyroe, Athy, County Kildare, was convicted of murdering Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Athy on 6 April 2013 and received a mandatory life sentence in July 2014. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan and James Seery, both aged 23, pleaded guilty to manslaughter during proceedings and received eight and seven years' imprisonment respectively, with portions suspended. Wynne's appeal argued that the timing of his co-accuseds' pleas—entered after gardaí interview memos were admitted—prejudiced his defence and warranted a retrial. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with two colleagues, dismissed the appeal, characterising the allegations of prosecution misconduct as an "unsupported assertion". The court found no evidence of improper conduct and upheld the conviction.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court dismisses assertion that prosecutors "ambushed" murder accused. Charges or matters: murdering his "best friend" Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy on April 6, 2013; manslaughter during the trial. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- April 6, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-01-30 Publication
Why: Mr Colgan had said he knew the pleas to manslaughter were "offered" by the DPP because, he recalled, prosecution counsel approached counsel for Monaghan. Prosecution account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: murdering his "best friend" Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy on April 6, 2013; manslaughter during the trial (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Wynne was found guilty by a jury of murder and was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan in July 2014.
Appellant
Charges: manslaughter during the trial (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Monaghan was subsequently sentenced to eight years imprisonment with two suspended and Seery seven years with three suspended.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- The Central Criminal Court
Topics
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