Courts / Dublin / Report

Eric Locke was temporarily confined to padded call, psychiatrist tells murder trial

Date
2017-05-17
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Richard Bunn, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that Eric Locke, 35, had planned the murder of his ex‑girlfriend Sonia Blount, 31, in a Tallaght hotel room on 16 February 2014. Bunn agreed with the State that Locke had engaged in a great degree of planning, that the strangulation was intentional, and that Locke had lied to protect himself. He also noted that Locke's responsibility was diminished by his mental state, citing an adjustment disorder, borderline personality traits, pervasive developmental disorder and ADHD. Locke had been confined in a padded cell wearing a poncho after being moved from solitary to group housing, where he reacted badly to the change. The trial will continue with the jury hearing the prosecution's rebuttal witness tomorrow morning.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Eric Locke was temporarily confined to padded call, psychiatrist tells murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering the 31-year-old in a room at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on the 16th of February 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: "Because she was panicking, she was making noise and he wanted to shut her up? CNI source report

Case subjects

Eric Locke

Accused

Charges: murdering the 31-year-old in a room at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on the 16th of February 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Residence
  • St John's Park
Facility
  • Cloverhill Prison

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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