Courts / Dublin / Report

Jury acquits men of attacking and endangering garda

Date
2020-09-07
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two men, Jonathan Coelho, 29, and Federico Carvalho, 31, were acquitted of assaulting and endangering Garda Conor Murray. The case centred on an incident on 31 July 2019 at St Lukes' Avenue, Dublin 8, where the accused were driving a vehicle that reversed at speed, causing Garda Murray to be thrown from the car. The jury, after 18 minutes of deliberation, found the men not guilty of the assault and endangerment charges. Coelho had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving offences, admitting he had driven at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction, and had crashed into a lamp post. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing for those dangerous driving charges. Carvalho was discharged from the indictment and released. The trial concluded with the jury's unanimous verdict and the judge adjourned the case for sentencing next Friday.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury acquits men of attacking and endangering garda. Charges or matters: charges of assault causing harm to Gda Murray of July 31, 2019 at St Lukes' Avenue, Dublin 8; a number of charges of dangerous driving. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: Keith Spencer BL, defending Coelho, said his client had been on remanded in custody since the date of the offence in July last year, after his bail was refused because he was considered "a flight risk". Defence account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Federico Carvalho

Defendant

Charges: charges of assault causing harm to Gda Murray of July 31, 2019 at St Lukes' Avenue, Dublin 8; a number of charges of dangerous driving (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Keith Spencer BL, defending Coelho, said his client had been on remanded in custody since the date of the offence in July last year, after his bail was refused because he was considered "a flight risk".

Jonathan Coelho

Defendant

Charges: charges of assault causing harm to Gda Murray of July 31, 2019 at St Lukes' Avenue, Dublin 8; a number of charges of dangerous driving (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Judge Greally adjourned the case to next Friday for sentence and remanded Coelho in custody until that date.; Keith Spencer BL, defending Coelho, said his client had been on remanded in custody since the date of the offence in July last year, after his bail was refused because he was considered "a flight risk".

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Residence
Incident
Journey Or Route

Topics

Road Traffic Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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