Courts / Meath / Report

Life imprisonment for hatchet murder during chihuahua row

Date
2017-02-27

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Navan

County
Meath

Summary

In a house on Tailteann Road in Navan, Josh Turner (24) was found guilty of murdering 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin during a dispute over a pedigree chihuahua. Turner was sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory sentence for murder, at the Central Criminal Court. Wayne Cluskey (25), who was also present, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for his part in Nevin's death. Cluskey will be sentenced next Monday. The trial, lasting eight days, relied heavily on CCTV footage and testimony from close friends, including Wayne Casserly, who described the confrontation as savage. Nevin was struck with a hatchet and an axe, leading to his death. Both accused voluntarily admitted their roles four days after the incident. The court heard statements from Nevin's mother and wife, who expressed deep grief and described Turner as a monster. Cluskey's defence highlighted his lack of intent to kill and his claim of defending Turner.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Life imprisonment for hatchet murder during chihuahua row. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty; Acquitted

When:

November 19, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
November 25, 2015 Incident
2017-02-27 Publication

Case subjects

Josh Turner

Convicted Person

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; At a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court today, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Turner to life imprisonment, the mandatory sentence for murder. Josh Turner's life sentence was backdated to November 25, 2015, when he was first put into custody following Mr Nevin's death.

Wayne Cluskey

Convicted Person

Finding: Acquitted

Outcome: Acquitted; At a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court today, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Turner to life imprisonment, the mandatory sentence for murder. After hearing statements from Mr Nevin's mother Mary Nevin and wife Lisa Nevin, Justice McCarthy said he would sentence Cluskey next Monday.