Courts / Roscommon / Report
Man who strangled girlfriend found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
Summary
A 34-year-old man from Boyle, County Roscommon, has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The accused was charged with the death of a 23-year-old woman in Sligo on 28 October 2015. During the two-day trial, evidence was presented that he had strangled the deceased, whom he believed he needed to kill to save her from what he perceived as an alternate reality. Two consultant forensic psychiatrists testified that the accused was suffering from schizophrenia at the time and would have been unable to refrain from his actions. The jury delivered a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after 24 minutes of deliberation. Mr Justice Tony Hunt committed the accused to the Central Mental Hospital pending a further court appearance on 17 July, when victim impact statements are scheduled to be read and a psychiatric assessment will be considered.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who strangled girlfriend found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. Charges or matters: murdering Natalie McGuinness (23) at The Mews, Mail Coach Road in Sligo on October 28, 2015; murdering Ms McGuinness by reason of insanity. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity
When:
- October 28, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 28 Other
- July 17 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 27 Other
- September 2015 Incident
- January 2017 Incident
- June 6, 2017 Other
- 2017-07-08 Publication
Why: A 34-year-old man who "believed he was in the Matrix" and strangled his girlfriend to death in order to save her, has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: murdering Natalie McGuinness (23) at The Mews, Mail Coach Road in Sligo on October 28, 2015; murdering Ms McGuinness by reason of insanity (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Places mentioned
- Mail Coach Road
- Central Criminal Court
- Central Mental Hospital
- Sligo General Hospital
- of Sligo Garda Station
- Sligo
Topics
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