Courts / Wicklow / Report

Roy Webster "lost all self control" when he beat woman to death with hammer, defence tell jury

Summary

Roy Webster, 40, of Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of Anne Shortall, 47, on Good Friday 3 April 2015 at The Murrough, Co Wicklow. His defence barrister, Brendan Grehan SC, told the jury that Webster had not planned the attack and had no attempt to conceal it. Grehan described Webster's actions as a loss of self‑control rather than a premeditated crime, noting that Webster had tied Shortall's wrists with duct tape and wrapped tape around her head after she was already dead, an act he could not explain. Webster had driven Shortall to The Murrough in his van, then brought her body home to his workshop, where he kept it for four days before admitting the crime to his wife and the Gardaí. The jury was instructed to decide whether Webster was guilty of murder or manslaughter, with deliberations to continue the next day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Roy Webster "lost all self control" when he beat woman to death with hammer, defence tell jury. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Anne Shortall (47) on Good Friday April 3, 2015 at The Murrough, Co Wicklow. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• Friday April 3, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 3 Other
• Christmas Other
• 2017-03-21 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report