Courts / Dublin / Report

Josh Dunne murder trial witness denies carrying out 'vicious attack'

Date
2022-05-19

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

During the murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, a 29‑year‑old witness with a history of drug possession and criminal damage denied that he carried out a "vicious attack" on a food‑delivery cyclist on the night Josh Dunne was killed. He said he had only stopped after being stabbed in the back by another person. The witness also denied that he had told the gardai he wanted to calm the situation and that he had "ended up getting stabbed in the back for my troubles." He claimed he had not seen who stabbed him and that he had been on his own when he joined the commotion. The defence counsel highlighted his previous convictions and the witness's contradictory statements, while the prosecution maintained that Bento produced a knife during a confrontation over a stolen bicycle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Josh Dunne murder trial witness denies carrying out 'vicious attack'. Charges or matters: murdering 16-year-old Josh at East Wall Road, East Wall on January 26, 2021; each of the four counts. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 26, 2021 Incident
January 26 Other
2022-05-19 Publication

Why: Mr Dwyer also told the witness that Mr Quieroz's blood was found on his runner and asked if this was because he had managed to "get a boot in there" at some stage. CNI source report