Courts / Wicklow / Report

Blood-stained murder accused walked into garda station carrying knife, jury to hear

Summary

Darren Houlden, 44, walked into an Arklow Garda station wearing blood‑stained clothes and carrying a knife, admitting to stabbing Stephen 'Apples' Kavanagh, 37, to death. The Central Criminal Court jury will hear that Houlden, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claimed he went into a rage after Kavanagh allegedly threatened to call about missing drugs. Prosecutor John D Fitzgerald SC will argue that the act of killing is clear but the jury must decide Houlden's intent and mental state. The case will cover the night of March 6, 2019, when Houlden and Kavanagh, along with Kavanagh's girlfriend, smoked and drank at Houlden's home, leading to a confrontation over missing drugs. Kavanagh suffered stab wounds to the head and neck and was pronounced dead at St Vincent's Hospital. Houlden admitted the stabbing to Gardaí and handed over the knife.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Blood-stained murder accused walked into garda station carrying knife, jury to hear. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Kavanagh in the early hours of Monday, March 6, 2019, at the same address. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• Monday, March 6, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• Saturday, March 4, 2019 Other
• 2020-11-24 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report