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Dublin youth jailed for killing German student while co-accused gets nine years for murder

Summary

A Dublin man, Wesley Kelly (20), has been sentenced to eight years with the final year and a half suspended for the manslaughter of a German student, Thomas Heinrich, in 2012. Another Dublin teenager was sentenced to nine years with the final two suspended for the murder of the student. The incident occurred on St Anthony's Road in Rialto on December 1, 2012, when Thomas Heinrich (22) and Robert Rinker (25) were stabbed. Mr Rinker survived but Mr Heinrich died from injuries sustained. Wesley Kelly had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, which was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He was found guilty of assault causing harm to Mr Rinker by a majority verdict of 11 to 1. The jury failed to reach a verdict on whether he was guilty of murdering Mr Heinrich. The 17-year-old had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Heinrich and to assault causing harm to Mr Rinker but was found guilty of both charges by unanimous decision in May. The court heard that Mr Rinker suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and physical and psychological scarring. Mr Heinrich sustained three fatal stab wounds and was bleeding heavily from his stomach before being removed from the scene. The court heard that the aggravating factors included the use of knives and premeditation, while mitigating factors included the ages of the guilty parties and their previous good character. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dublin youth jailed for killing German student while co-accused gets nine years for murder. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court yesterday; assault causing harm to Mr Rinker by a majority verdict of 11 to 1; murdering Mr Heinrich and to assault causing harm to Mr Rinker. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• December 1, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2014-06-24 Publication

Why: He said that the 17-year-old who cannot be named because of his age was 'fueled with drink' and was the 'ringleader and instigator'. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report