Courts / Kildare / Report

Jury fails to reach verdict again in man's third trial over baseball bat killing

Summary

The Central Criminal Court has adjourned the third trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49-year-old truck driver, after the jury failed to reach a verdict. Almasi, who has been in custody for seven years, was charged with murdering Joseph 'JoJo' Dunne, a 20-year-old, at Harbour View, Naas, on 16th May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury heard evidence that Almasi struck Dunne in the back of the head with a baseball bat after Dunne banged on his van, causing a fatal skull fracture. Almasi's first trial resulted in a murder conviction, which was quashed by the Supreme Court following an appeal on the grounds of provocation. His second trial also ended in a disagreement. In this third trial, the jury deliberated for over 13 hours before informing the court they were deadlocked. Justice Michael White allowed them to record a verdict of disagreement. The matter was adjourned, with Almasi remanded in custody until 16th July for the Director of Public Prosecutions' further directions. No final sentence or disposal was recorded at this procedural stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury fails to reach verdict again in man's third trial over baseball bat killing. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Dunne, but guilty to his manslaughter at Harbour View on 16th May 2014; murdering Mr Dunne in 2016 and sentenced to life in prison. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

• 16th May 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• 24th May Hearing Or Sentence
• 16th July Adjournment
• 2021-07-01 Publication

Why: He told the jury that he was originally from Yugoslavia, where he deserted the army when the war broke out in 1990 because he 'didn't want to take part in killing people'. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report