Courts / Dublin / Report

Mum-of-one described Eric Locke as "whack job", murder trial hears

Summary

In a Dublin murder trial, 35‑year‑old Eric Locke is charged with killing 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount in a Plaza Hotel room on 16 February 2014. The court heard that Locke had tried to hack Blount's Facebook and email accounts a week before the murder, and that she had described him as a "whack job" to a friend. Locke pleaded not guilty but admitted causing Blount's death, which was found strangled and suffocated. He had threatened suicide when their relationship ended in January 2014 and exchanged messages with Blount about his health. The jury heard that Locke had created a fake identity to meet Blount, arranged a meeting for sex, and that he left the hotel around 5.40 am before her body was discovered. The trial is before Mr Justice Michael Moriarty with a jury of eight men and four women.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mum-of-one described Eric Locke as "whack job", murder trial hears. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 8th Other
• February 15th Hearing Or Sentence
• 2017-05-11 Publication

Why: The court also heard today that she'd described Eric Locke as a 'whack job' to a friend, and had asked the accused to stop looking over at her at work because it was freaking her out. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report