Courts / Wicklow / Report

Woman to appeal murder conviction for driving man into harbour where he drowned

Date
2017-03-31
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Arklow
County
Wicklow

Summary

Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old woman from Arklow, drove a 31‑year‑old Hungarian man, Csaba Orsos, into a deep harbour where he drowned. The incident occurred on 26 March 2013 when Herda drove her Volkswagen Passat through the crash barriers at South Quay, Arklow, before 6 a.m. The Polish waitress, who was with Orsos, escaped through the driver's window, but Orsos's body was found on a nearby beach later that day. A post‑mortem found he died from drowning, not from injuries related to the crash. Herda pleaded not guilty, but a jury at the Central Criminal Court found her guilty of murder and she received a mandatory life sentence on 28 July 2016. She has lodged an appeal and a hearing is scheduled for 18–19 July 2024, with the expectation that the appeal will take two days of hearing. The case management hearing was held without Herda present.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman to appeal murder conviction for driving man into harbour where he drowned. Charges or matters: the murder of 31-year-old Hungarian man Csaba Orsos but a jury at the Central Criminal Court found her guilty and she was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 28, 2016. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Case subjects

Marta Herda

Defendant

Charges: the murder of 31-year-old Hungarian man Csaba Orsos but a jury at the Central Criminal Court found her guilty and she was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 28, 2016 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Herda had pleaded not guilty to the murder of 31-year-old Hungarian man Csaba Orsos but a jury at the Central Criminal Court found her guilty and she was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 28, 2016.

Places mentioned

Residence
Journey Or Route
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
  • The Central Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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