Courts / Wicklow / Report
Webster guilty of murdering Anne Shortall
Summary
Roy Webster, aged 40 of Ashbree, Ashford, County Wicklow, was found guilty of murder by unanimous jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court on 24 March 2017. The victim, Anne Shortall, aged 47, died from injuries sustained at The Murrough near Wicklow Town on 3 April 2015. Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed a life sentence, backdated to 7 April 2015. The court heard that Webster struck Ms Shortall repeatedly with a hammer after she threatened to disclose a previous encounter to his wife. He subsequently restrained her with duct tape before transporting her body in his van. Webster initially provided a false account to gardaí, claiming he had released Ms Shortall at The Murrough. He later confessed to his wife in the presence of Detective Sergeant Fergus O'Brien, revealing the body's location in his workshop. The defence argued provocation as mitigation, which would reduce the charge to manslaughter. The jury rejected this, finding Webster acted with knowledge and intent to kill or cause serious injury.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Webster guilty of murdering Anne Shortall. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 3, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 7, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 20, 2014 Other
- April 9 Other
- April 2 Other
- December 20 Other
- Christmas Other
- Christmas night Other
- 2017-03-24 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Outcome: This afternoon Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced him to life imprisonment. He added that while he "bitterly regrets" what happened, "it was never his intention to injure her, much less kill her." Webster, who shook his head in disbelief when the verdict was revealed earlier in the day, wept before the judge asked him to stand while he passed sentence.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- As prison
Topics
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