Courts / Wicklow / Report
Court upholds 7-year jail sentence for man who sliced friend's face
Summary
In 2018 the Court of Appeal upheld a seven‑year jail sentence for Damien Green, who was convicted of assault causing serious harm after slicing the face of his friend Richard Coster. The original trial at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court had found Green guilty and sentenced him to ten years, with the final three years suspended. The appeal was dismissed because the sentencing judge's approach was deemed correct. Judge John Edwards noted that Coster, a friend of Green, had been heavily drinking and possibly under the influence of drugs on the day of the attack, which occurred at Green's apartment on Richmond Hill. Green had no memory of the events, had previously been uncooperative, and had a history of violent convictions. The judge placed the offence in the high range of seven to twelve years, citing Green's lack of mitigating factors and his prior violent record. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the original sentence. Damien Green pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court upholds 7-year jail sentence for man who sliced friend's face. Charges or matters: assault causing serious harm to Richard Coster at his apartment on Richmond Hill on April 20, 2013. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- April 20, 2013 Incident
- December 17, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-04-17 Publication
Why: He had fought the case (because he had no memory of events, according to his barrister), had not been cooperative and had previous convictions for crimes of violence. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: assault causing serious harm to Richard Coster at his apartment on Richmond Hill on April 20, 2013 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Green was found guilty by a jury at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with the final three suspended by Judge Michael O'Shea on December 17, 2014. The Court of Appeal dismissed Green's appeal against sentence today, holding that the sentencing judge's approach was correct.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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