Courts / Cork / Report
Court upholds conviction of former addict who murdered friend during heroin row
Summary
Peter Jackson, aged 42, was convicted of murdering David Hamilton, aged 31, during a heroin injection dispute on 4 May 2012. The Central Criminal Court found Jackson guilty and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 23 November 2015. Jackson, a former heroin addict, and Hamilton were both users who had bought two bags of heroin earlier that day. An argument erupted after Jackson struggled to inject Hamilton, leading to a fight that culminated in Jackson striking Hamilton with a knife. Jackson appealed his conviction, arguing a lack of evidence for the mental element of murder and that the judge failed to address rebuttable presumptions. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Birmingham, rejected the appeal, affirming the conviction and the life sentence. The appeal was dismissed. Peter Jackson pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court upholds conviction of former addict who murdered friend during heroin row. Charges or matters: the murder of Wexford man David Hamilton (31) on May 4 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- May 4 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 23, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-04-07 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: the murder of Wexford man David Hamilton (31) on May 4 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; He was found guilty by a jury and was given the mandatory life sentence by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy on November 23, 2015.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- Kerryhall Road
- Kerryhall Road
Topics
Drugs Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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