Courts / Dublin / Report

George Bento murder trial: what the jury didn't hear

Date
2022-06-14

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

After George Bento was arraigned, his defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC applied to the court, arguing that the murder charge was unsupported by evidence and that the case should be charged as manslaughter. He cited CCTV footage showing other individuals attacking Bento and his companion, and claimed that Bento's use of force was reasonable and in self‑defence, defence of another and property. Dwyer also requested the judge to monitor the evidence for fairness, stating that an unfair trial could result if the jury considered a murder charge. The prosecution, led by Sean Guerin SC, countered that the CCTV and eyewitness accounts established a murder charge, noting that a 16‑year‑old received two fatal stab wounds. Mr Justice Paul Burns ruled that the court would not remove the murder count, allowing it to proceed to the jury. During the trial, a large group of Deliveroo riders attended the courtroom in uniform, expressing solidarity with Bento.