Courts / Dublin / Report

Murder accused developed distrust of women after being taunted about birth defect, trial hears

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, the trial of 35‑year‑old Eric Locke, charged with the murder of 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount, has revealed that Locke had a history of ADHD, autism and Asperger's Syndrome. He also suffered a birth defect involving his urethra, which had been unsuccessfully corrected surgically and led to scarring. According to psychiatrist Dr Sean O'Domhnaill, Locke's early life was marked by autistic behaviours such as hand‑flapping and high‑pitched shrieks, and he had held more than 20 jobs in a decade, a pattern typical of ADHD. O'Domhnaill also noted that Locke had developed a mistrust of women after being taunted by several females about his birth defect. The prosecution's case was closed, while Locke pleaded not guilty and admitted to strangling Blount after meeting her via a fake Facebook profile at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on 16 February 2014.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused developed distrust of women after being taunted about birth defect, trial hears. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2017-05-15 Publication

Why: He explained that this was a feature seen in Asperger's Syndrome. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report