Courts / Wicklow / Report

'Will you help me. He is going to kill me': woman tells trial she saw accused 'slaughtering' her boyfriend

Date
2020-11-25

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Arklow

County
Wicklow

Summary

In a murder trial, Rachel Kearney testified that Darren Houlden, 44, stabbed her boyfriend Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh, 37, to death on 6 May 2019 at Houlden's home. Kearney described seeing Houlden "slaughtering" Kavanagh, with Houlden's knees on Kavanagh's back as he stabbed him. She recounted that Kavanagh had been upset over missing crack cocaine, that Houlden had become aggressive, and that Kavanagh pleaded for help before being stabbed. Kearney said she tried to stop Houlden, who calmly replied, "Ok, I will." The final wounds were to Kavanagh's neck and head. Houlden pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the plea was rejected by the DPP and he is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. The trial is set to continue before a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Will you help me. He is going to kill me': woman tells trial she saw accused 'slaughtering' her boyfriend. Charges or matters: murdering 37-year-old Mr Kavanagh in the early hours of Monday, May 6, 2019, at the accused's home address; murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Kavanagh. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Monday, May 6, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
May 4 Other
May 6 Other
May 6, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
2020-11-25 Publication

Case subjects

Darren Houlden

Accused

Charges: murdering 37-year-old Mr Kavanagh in the early hours of Monday, May 6, 2019, at the accused's home address; murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Kavanagh (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty