Courts / Dublin / Report

Teen murder accused acted out of fear, defence tell jury

Date
2020-09-14

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dundrum

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 17‑year‑old accused of murdering 18‑year‑old Azzam Raguragui was defended by Michael Bowman SC, who argued the boy acted in fear during a chaotic brawl. Bowman claimed the accused believed he was in self‑defence and should be found guilty of manslaughter, not murder. He described the fight as spiralling out of control due to youthful posturing, fear, adrenaline, immaturity and lack of judgement, with the accused armed with a knife and assembling a group to confront Raguragui and his friends. James Dwyer SC for the prosecution maintained that the accused had a clear intent to kill or cause serious harm, citing the stabbing of Raguragui's chest and back and the accused's prior statements to Gardaí. The prosecution argued that intent to kill or cause serious injury is required for murder, and that the natural and probable consequences of the stabbing were serious harm.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Teen murder accused acted out of fear, defence tell jury. Procedural stage: trial

When:

May 10, 2019 Other
2020-09-14 Publication

Why: " James Dwyer SC for the prosecution said the boy, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, showed a "clear intent" to kill or cause serious harm when he stabbed Azzam Raguragui (18) in the chest and back. Prosecution account reported by CNI