Courts / Waterford / Report
Damaging Facebook messages "not sufficiently proven" to come from convicted murderer, lawyers submit
Summary
In a Court of Appeal hearing, William Moran's lawyers argued that Facebook messages alleged to be from his account were not sufficiently proven to have come from him. Moran, 23, was convicted of murdering Martin Brophy, 22, at the Waterford Institute of Technology in 2012 and received a mandatory life sentence in 2015. The prosecution's key evidence was a Facebook post sent after the murder but before the body was found, claiming the victim was dead. Moran's counsel, Colman Cody SC, contended that the evidence's provenance was unclear, that the State had sought a Mutual Assistance request in January 2014, and that no witnesses from Facebook had been produced to confirm the message's authenticity. He highlighted that Facebook evidence requires human input and authoritative proof, unlike CCTV or photographs. The court noted it would reserve judgment on the matter. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Damaging Facebook messages "not sufficiently proven" to come from convicted murderer, lawyers submit. Charges or matters: murdering Martin Brophy (22) at the old Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) building between May 19 and May 21 2012. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 19 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 21 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 19, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 19, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-01-23 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: murdering Martin Brophy (22) at the old Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) building between May 19 and May 21 2012 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: He was unanimously found guilty by a jury following eight hours and 38 minutes of deliberations and given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on March 19, 2015.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- The Central Criminal Court
- Connolly Place
- Waterford City
Topics
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