Courts / Dublin / Report

'Like the movie Carrie': US tourists tell murder trial of blood-covered encounter

Summary

An American tourist, Debbie Halley, described seeing a blood‑covered woman in a Dublin apartment complex as "like the movie Carrie" and hearing her cry for help. Another American tourist, Sean Miller, recounted waking at 3 am to a screaming, a woman bleeding on the floor and a man with a knife. Miller and his friend Tyler Chen used a chair and a fire extinguisher to repel the man, then carried the woman to the corridor where they attempted first aid. The woman, Skaidrite Valdgeima, was later found dead. Valdgeima's friend Grita Steine testified that Valdgeima and the accused, Valerijs Leitons (25), had begun a sexual relationship after meeting at a concert in May 2019. Leitons, who was booked at St Kevin's Gardens, is on trial for her murder at the Central Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Like the movie Carrie': US tourists tell murder trial of blood-covered encounter. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• 26 June 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 2019 Other
• Tuesday 25 June Other
• 2021-09-30 Publication

Why: "In order to prove the crime there must be the act and the intent," he told the jurors. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
• Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
• Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
• 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
• Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
• 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'

Read the original CNI report