Courts / Dublin / Report

Father 'should never have been convicted' of murdering infant son

Date
2021-08-23

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In 2021 the Court of Appeal quashed the 2003 murder conviction of Yusuf Ali Abdi, a 48‑year‑old father, and ordered a retrial. The original verdict had been based on a majority of jurors accepting a prosecution psychiatrist's view that Abdi did not suffer from paranoid schizophrenia. In 2019 new evidence showed that Abdi's diagnosis had changed to paranoid schizophrenia, a fact that could have altered the jury's decision. The retrial, held in 2019, resulted in a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, declared the original conviction a miscarriage of justice, noting that both defence and prosecution experts agreed Abdi was mentally ill at the time of the offence. The case involved the death of Abdi's 20‑month‑old son, Nathan, who suffered fatal head injuries on 17 April 2001. The court found no evidence of prosecutorial irregularity or perjured testimony.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Father 'should never have been convicted' of murdering infant son. Charges or matters: murdering his 20-month-old son Nathan Barak Andrew Ali at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare on April 17, 2001 following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in 2003. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

April 17, 2001 Hearing Or Sentence
February 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
May 1998 Other
January 1999 Other
30 August 1999 Incident
November 1999 Hearing Or Sentence
2021-08-23 Publication

Case subjects

Yusuf Ali Abdi

Appellant

Charges: murdering his 20-month-old son Nathan Barak Andrew Ali at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare on April 17, 2001 following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in 2003 (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted