Courts / Meath / Report

Deceased had previous conviction for stamping on man's head, chihuahua murder trial hears

Summary

A murder trial has heard that 27-year-old Christopher Nevin, who was allegedly beaten to death with a hatchet during a dispute over a chihuahua, had a previous conviction for stamping on a man's head. Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24), both of Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christopher Nevin at Tailteann Road, Navan on November 19, 2015, as well as assault causing serious harm and possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Michael Fitzpatrick, a garda, stated that in 2007, Christopher Nevin pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and was jailed for five and a half years. He was also convicted of possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Lisa Nevin, Christopher Nevin's wife, testified that she married him in 2011 and that they were very happy. She stated that Wayne Cluskey and Josh Turner were friends of her husband and that Turner had provided a male chihuahua to breed with her husband's dogs. On the day of the incident, Christopher Nevin received a phone call from the council informing them they were to get a house. The last time Lisa Nevin saw her husband alive was when he left the caravan with his friend, Wayne Casserly, to walk to Casserly's home on Tailteann Road. Wayne Casserly testified that he and Christopher Nevin arrived at the house on Tailteann Road at about 1.20pm. Moments later, Turner and Cluskey arrived in Cluskey's girlfriend's car. Turner knocked on the living room window, and Nevin went to the door. A commotion ensued, and Cluskey took something out of the back seat of the car, which Casserly later identified as a hatchet or axe. Cluskey struck Nevin on the shoulder with the weapon, and the three men scuffled until Nevin ended up on the ground. Casserly said that Cluskey was on top of Nevin and Turner was standing over him with the axe. Casserly tried to intervene but was struck on the back of the head with the weapon. He said he heard Cluskey say, 'You have gone and done it now, you have killed him.' When he regained his senses, he saw Nevin lying on the ground, bleeding, and went inside to get his phone and call an ambulance. Casserly said that Turner told him to keep his mouth shut and that the two men checked to see if Nevin was breathing before leaving. About half an hour later, Casserly received a phone call from Turner who asked about Nevin. Casserly told him, 'I think you are after killing him.' Turner again told him to keep his mouth shut. Casserly agreed with Turner's defence counsel, Patrick Marrinan SC, that he believed the two men were concerned for Nevin before they left. The trial is continuing tomorrow in front of Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Deceased had previous conviction for stamping on man's head, chihuahua murder trial hears. Charges or matters: the murder of 27-year-old Christopher Nevin at Tailteann Road, Navan on November 19, 2015; assault causing serious harm having stamped on a man's head as he lay on the ground; possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• November 19, 2015 Incident
• 2017-02-02 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report