Courts / Galway / Report
Man jailed for rape argues gardai failed to take statements
Summary
Shafik Qadri, a 51‑year‑old Pakistani national, was sentenced to six years in prison in October 2018 for raping a woman he invited to dinner in January 2016. He appealed at the Court of Appeal, arguing that Gardaí failed to take two witness statements. The statements in question were from a work colleague of the victim and the colleague's girlfriend, who had been told by the victim about the incident before reporting it the following day. Qadri's counsel, Michael Bowman SC, claimed that the omission compromised the fairness of the trial. The DPP's counsel, Shane Costelloe SC, dismissed the appeal as speculative, noting no issue was raised during the trial and that the Gardaí had not disclosed any information to the defence. The judge reserved judgment on the appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man jailed for rape argues gardai failed to take statements. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- October 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-06-17 Publication
Why: He said that the complainant confided in two people and that the absence of their statements was not speculative because the victim said in her own victim impact statement that she was going to confide in the couple "in peace and quiet". CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Outcome: Shafik Qadri, a Pakistan national with a last address at Tuam Road, Galway City, was jailed by Mr Justice Michael White in October 2018 for six years for the rape of a woman he invited to his home for dinner in January 2016. Mr Bowman, in his submission, stated that the fact the victim had confided in her colleague and his girlfriend was only revealed at the sentence hearing for Qadri, after his conviction.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- Tuam
- Tuam Road
- Galway City
- Midlands Prison
- the couple to the Garda station
Topics
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