Courts / Sligo / Report

Scene appeared "staged" to look like suicide, witness tells murder trial

Date
2018-11-20

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Sligo

County
Sligo

Summary

A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence that the death scene of a 59-year-old Sligo man appeared staged to resemble a suicide. Keith Brady, aged 31 and of Cartron Estate in Sligo, faces a charge of murdering Martin Kivlehan at The New Apartments on Holborn Street between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witnesses, including two lifelong friends and the deceased's brother, described finding Mr Kivlehan with a knife in his hand. A garda present at the scene testified that the circumstances did not appear consistent with suicide, noting that cabinet doors had been opened and drug paraphernalia was visible. The prosecution outlined that the deceased had sustained two stab wounds to the neck at a 45-degree angle and had very high levels of alcohol in his system. The trial before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart is expected to continue for more than two weeks, with the jury required to consider the accused's intoxication at the time of the alleged killing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Scene appeared "staged" to look like suicide, witness tells murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering Martin Kivlehan on a date unknown between 2nd August and 3rd August 2015 at The New Apartments on Holborn Street; murdering the 59-year-old, but guilty to his manslaughter in Mr Kivlehan's home. Procedural stage: trial

When:

2nd August Hearing Or Sentence
3rd August 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-11-20 Publication

Why: " The barrister explained that garda enquiries began to focus on Keith and Janice Brady, a brother and sister. CNI source report

Case subjects

Keith Brady

Accused

Charges: murdering Martin Kivlehan on a date unknown between 2nd August and 3rd August 2015 at The New Apartments on Holborn Street; murdering the 59-year-old, but guilty to his manslaughter in Mr Kivlehan's home (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty