Courts / Clare / Report

Jury must look at matters from murder accused's point of view, judge charges

Summary

In the murder trial of Robbie Walsh, a 23‑year‑old Clare man, the jury was instructed by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart to consider the case from Walsh's perspective, assessing whether he believed he was under threat and whether his use of force was justified. The judge reminded jurors that a person in self‑defence may act impulsively and that excessive force would not be reasonable. Walsh, who pleaded not guilty, admitted in a garda interview that he had killed Karl "Gobbo" Haugh, a 25‑year‑old, after a confrontation at Marian Estate. He described picking up a dropped knife and stabbing Haugh in the back, which caused a fatal lung puncture. The jury was sent home for the night and was to resume deliberations the following day. The trial is ongoing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury must look at matters from murder accused's point of view, judge charges. Charges or matters: murdering 25-year-old Karl "Gobbo" Haugh at Marian Estate, Kilkee, Co. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• August 6, 2017 Incident
• 2019-02-12 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Killer attacked man, made threat to kill just months after release from prison
• Dublin-based man on trial in Italy after disappearance of wife claims she was 'driver' behind mortgage scam
• Seven years for killer who stabbed man in back during row
• Mother of man killed in knife row previously lost daughter in crash
• Jury clears man of murder but finds him guilty of manslaughter over stabbing
• Murder accused was in "life or death situation", defence say

Read the original CNI report