Courts / Dublin / Report
Man who disembowelled friend while 'out of his head' fails in appeal
Summary
In 2018, 33‑year‑old Lawrence Mubango, of Inchicore, Dublin, stabbed two friends, Ashely Ncube and Nhlanhla Nduli, during a drug‑induced paranoid attack. Paramedics found Ncube with intestines protruding from his abdomen. Mubango claimed he feared the men would rape his partner, but the court found no basis for this. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment with 18 months suspended, citing the seriousness of the assault. Mubango appealed, arguing the judge had misidentified the headline term of 12½ years. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected the appeal, affirming the original sentence and noting the reduction to eight‑and‑a‑half years was a substantial discount. Mubango's defence highlighted drug‑fuelled paranoia and spontaneity, but the court upheld the seriousness of the offence and the appropriate sentencing. The case remains at the appellate stage. Lawrence Mubango pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who disembowelled friend while 'out of his head' fails in appeal. Charges or matters: assault causing serious harm to Ashely Ncube at Parknoe House on May 17, 2018; the charges and had expressed remorse for his actions, the mitigation he had received had been "modest". Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 17, 2018 Incident
- Tuesday, June 28 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-06-30 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault causing serious harm to Ashely Ncube at Parknoe House on May 17, 2018; the charges and had expressed remorse for his actions, the mitigation he had received had been "modest" (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: However, Judge Pauline Codd at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court said there was no substance to his claims and sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment with 18 months suspended. He later appealed the length of the sentence on the grounds that the judge erred when she identified a headline term of 12-and-a-half years for the offences. "The starting point for the sentence had been wrong," James Dwyer SC, for Mubango, told the Court of Appeal at a hearing on Tuesday, June 28.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Appeal 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'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request