Courts / Kildare / Report

Trial opens of man accused of baseball bat murder

Summary

The Central Criminal Court heard the third trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian‑born man, charged with murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in County Kildare. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State argued that Almasi intended to kill or seriously injure Dunne, citing the post‑mortem finding of a comminuted, depressed skull fracture caused by a baseball bat. The prosecution described the incident: Dunne was on his way to a bus at 10.30 pm when he collided with Almasi's parked van, after which Almasi pursued him with a baseball bat and struck him on the head, causing death. The defence accepted that Almasi caused the death but disputed the intent. The jury, composed of seven men and four women, heard the case on Wednesday, with the trial set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White for an expected four‑week duration.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Trial opens of man accused of baseball bat murder. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to Mr Dunne's manslaughter at Harbour View on May 16 2014. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 16 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2021-05-26 Publication

Why: Counsel explained that the postmortem examination found a comminuted, depressed fracture of his skull. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• 'Merciful approach': man who sexually assaulted girl (14) a year after defiling her won't face any extra jail time
• Court rejects grandfather's appeal for abusing grandson
• 'I'm going to kill you' - Carjacker held knife to elderly woman's throat
• Mum-of-eight who booked hotel stays with gunman husband during garda manhunt gets suspended sentence
• Nigerian 'Colonel and Major' get combined 16.5 years over 'worldwide, breathtaking' money laundering racket
• Addict jailed after being caught with €330k worth of cannabis following traffic stop

Read the original CNI report