Courts / Wicklow / Report

Waitress who drove man who loved her into harbour has murder conviction upheld

Date
2017-10-12

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Arklow

County
Wicklow

Summary

Marta Herda, a 30‑year‑old Polish waitress, was convicted of murder after she drove a Volkswagen Passat into the harbour at Arklow on 26 March 2013, causing the drowning of 31‑year‑old Hungarian passenger Csaba Orsos. The Central Criminal Court found her guilty and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 28 July 2016. Herda had pleaded not guilty, arguing that the drive into the water was accidental and that she had no intent to kill. She appealed on 17 grounds, including recklessness, the nature of the driving, assault manslaughter, alleged confessions and the judge's charge to the jury. The Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds, ruling that the trial judge's instructions were clear and that the evidence supported a finding of murder. Herda was described as a Polish national who had lived in Ireland since age 19 and had a limited command of English.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Waitress who drove man who loved her into harbour has murder conviction upheld. 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
2017-10-12 Publication

Why: She was very articulate, Mr Grehan said, and it was difficult to write down everything she said because of the "manner of her delivery". 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.