Courts / Kildare / Report

Murder accused denies being taught how to hurt people in Yugoslav army

Summary

Zoltan Almasi, 49, a Serbian truck driver, denies that training in the Yugoslav army taught him how to hurt people. He is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne, who died after a single blow to the back of his head with a baseball bat on 16 May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He claims he did not realise he had struck Dunne until he saw an ambulance and Garda car, and that he had no memory of the incident. During cross‑examination, the counsel questioned his alleged army training, to which Almasi replied that he was never taught to hurt others. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and four women.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused denies being taught how to hurt people in Yugoslav army. Charges or matters: murdering Kildare man Joseph Dunne, but guilty to his manslaughter at Harbour View on May 16 2014. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 16 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2021-06-18 Publication

Why: "And that is because the head contains the brain and the cranial matter that determines our bodies' life functions," she suggested. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report