Courts / Dublin / Report
Nurse appeals conviction for murdering mother on Christmas Eve
Summary
A 39‑year‑old nurse, Greta Dudko, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering her 55‑year‑old mother, Anna Butautiene, on Christmas Eve 2010. Dudko admitted striking her mother's head against a wall and hitting her with a glass bottle, causing blunt‑force trauma. She pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea that was rejected, and was tried at the Central Criminal Court. A majority jury found her guilty of murder (11‑1) and Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed a mandatory life sentence on 22 October 2014. The court noted Dudko's alcohol problem, medication use, and recent suspension from nursing work. She and her family had moved out of the shared home weeks before the murder. Dudko has now lodged an appeal, arguing that the trial judge's conduct and charge were unfair and unbalanced, particularly regarding intoxication and provocation. The appeal is pending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Nurse appeals conviction for murdering mother on Christmas Eve. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to her manslaughter at that address on December 24th 2010; murder by a majority jury verdict of 11-1. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- December 24th 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 22, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- Christmas Eve Other
- 2017-12-16 Publication
Why: The trial judge told the jury, after cross examination of a GP on Dudko's state of mind, that he hoped they remembered the evidence they were hearing because they weren't going to hear it repeated in his charge. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: murder but guilty to her manslaughter at that address on December 24th 2010; murder by a majority jury verdict of 11-1 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; A 39-year-old nurse sentenced to life in prison for murdering her mother on Christmas Eve must wait to hear the outcome of an appeal against her conviction.
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