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Judge warns jury about ID evidence in tiger kidnapping trial

Summary

A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of Paschal Kelly, aged 53, from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, who has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from an incident on September 25, 2014. The charges include trespass, false imprisonment of three women at a property in Malahide, robbery of cash from a post office in Sutton, threats to kill, and unlawful possession of a vehicle. Before directing the jury to consider verdicts, Judge Karen O'Connor issued a cautionary direction regarding identification evidence, noting that responsible witnesses have previously made identifications later proven erroneous. The judge advised the jury to exercise particular care when assessing identification evidence and to consider all surrounding circumstances, including the time of day and conditions prevailing during observations. She also instructed them that photofits are limited in evidential value and that DNA presence alone at a crime scene does not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The jury of five women and seven men is expected to resume deliberations the following day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judge warns jury about ID evidence in tiger kidnapping trial. Charges or matters: trespass and to false imprisonment of postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter and Italian student Gabriella Saisa at Seabury Drive, Malahide, Dublin, on September 25, 2014; robbing Ms Lawlor of cash at Bayside Post Office, Sutton, Dublin, and threatening to kill her, Ms Carter and Ms Saisa at an unknown location in the State. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 25, 2014 Incident
• 2018-12-06 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report