Courts / Dublin / Report

Jury warned over identification evidence in soldier murder trial

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court trial, Gary Watson, 35, was charged with murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, 24, in 2010. O'Connor died from a single stab wound to the neck, with the knife blade partially impaled in his body. Watson also faced charges of assault causing harm to Philip Woodcock, 34, and of producing a knife to intimidate another person. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, instructed the jury to treat each charge separately and warned that a verdict of guilty on the assault or intimidation charges would not automatically imply guilt for murder. He emphasized the need for caution regarding identification evidence, noting that the sole witness, Gary Foy, saw a man in a white hoodie make a stabbing motion. The judge also cautioned that the nine‑year delay could affect witness memory, urging the jury to give the accused the benefit of doubt. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury warned over identification evidence in soldier murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering Mr O'Connor at Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13 on January 16, 2010. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• January 16, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2019-02-14 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report