Courts / Wicklow / Report

Waitress who drove "man who loved her" in to harbour appeals murder conviction

Date
2017-07-18

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Arklow

County
Wicklow

Summary

Marta Herda, 30, of Arklow, appealed her murder conviction after driving a Volkswagen Passat into a harbour on 26 March 2013, causing the drowning of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who could not swim. The Central Criminal Court found her guilty and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 28 July 2016. Herda's appeal argues that the driving was not deliberate, that the prosecution's case relied on alleged confessions and circumstantial evidence, and that the trial judge failed to properly charge the jury on recklessness or intent. She contends that her statements to Gardaí were misrecorded, that she did not intend to kill, and that the prosecution's theory of a pre‑meditated execution is far‑fetched. The appeal seeks a reconsideration of the conviction on these grounds. Marta Herda pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Waitress who drove "man who loved her" in to harbour appeals murder conviction. Charges or matters: the murder of 31-year-old Hungarian man Csaba Orsos but a jury at the Central Criminal Court found her guilty and she was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 28, 2016. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

March 26, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
July 28, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
2017-07-18 Publication

Why: There was a 13 foot six inch skid mark apparently achieved by application of the handbrake and it would appear likely, Mr Grehan said, that Mr Orsos applied the handbrake because Marta Herda could have used the ABS breaks. CNI source report

Case subjects

Marta Herda

Defendant

Charges: the murder of 31-year-old Hungarian man Csaba Orsos but a jury at the Central Criminal Court found her guilty and she was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 28, 2016 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Herda had pleaded not guilty to the murder of 31-year-old Hungarian man Csaba Orsos but a jury at the Central Criminal Court found her guilty and she was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 28, 2016.