Courts / Kildare / Report

Man accused over chainsaw murder said he'd have liked to pay for victim's headstone

Summary

During the trial of Paul Wells Junior, 33, the accused admitted to disposing of the chainsaw used to dismember Kenneth O'Brien, 33, a murder committed by his father, Paul Wells Senior, 51. Wells Junior told Gardaí he had wanted to pay for O'Brien's headstone to express remorse. He explained that he had taken the chainsaw from his car, unaware it had been used in the murder, and later disposed of its blade and chain at The Curragh. He claimed he had no intention of hiding the evidence and that he had been influenced by trauma inflicted by his father. Wells Junior pleaded not guilty to the charges of disposing of the chainsaw motor and its blade and chain. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, continues with the jury hearing closing arguments. The case remains at the trial stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man accused over chainsaw murder said he'd have liked to pay for victim's headstone. Charges or matters: impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his father Paul Wells Senior (51) by disposing of a chainsaw nearly four years ago; murdering Kenneth O'Brien at his home in Finglas on January 15 or 16, 2016; disposing of a chainsaw motor at a time unknown between January 19 and 20, 2016 in Co Kildare and not guilty to disposing of a chainsaw blade and chain on January 20, 2016 in the same location. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 5, 2016 Incident
• February 10 Incident
• January 19 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 15 Other
• January 20, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2019-11-18 Publication

Why: Mr Wells Jnr said he would have liked an opportunity to pay for the headstone for Mr O'Brien's grave in order to show how sorry he was. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report