Courts / Kildare / Report
Force used to wield bat may be evidence of loss of control, defence tell murder trial
Summary
In a murder trial, the defence counsel for Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, argued that the force with which Almasi wielded a baseball bat could indicate a sudden loss of control, potentially supporting a partial defence of provocation. Almasi, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, killed 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in 2014 after Dunne allegedly jostled Almasi's van. Almasi chased Dunne away with the bat, striking him on the back of the head, causing a fatal skull fracture. The prosecution claimed Almasi struck Dunne in anger, while the defence highlighted that the bat's tip hit the head, a 4‑cm margin that could have missed if Almasi had been slightly farther back. The counsel urged the jury to consider Almasi's perception of the van's attack, his background, the Harbour View area's reputation, and the possibility of a sudden loss of self‑control. The judge, Michael White, would charge the jury tomorrow.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Force used to wield bat may be evidence of loss of control, defence tell murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering Joseph Dunne, but guilty to his manslaughter at Harbour View on May 16 2014. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- May 16 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-06-22 Publication
Why: "That, I say, is very significant because there's 4cm between the life and death of JJ Dunne," he continued. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murdering Joseph Dunne, but guilty to his manslaughter at Harbour View on May 16 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Kildare
- Harbour View
- Harbour View
- Naas
- The Central Criminal Court
Topics
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