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DNA evidence enough to prove man guilty of Sunset House murder
Summary
The Special Criminal Court has convicted Christopher Slator of the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator, of Cabra, Dublin 7, had pleaded not guilty, but the non-jury court rejected his defence that his DNA on a mask and runners found in a car had an innocent explanation. The court found the DNA evidence sufficient to prove his guilt, noting that his flight to Dubai with Eamon Cumberton the day after the shooting was highly suspicious. Slator will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment later today. This conviction follows previous life sentences imposed on David Hunter in 2020 and Eamon Cumberton in 2019 for the same murder. Additionally, Martin Aylmer pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang involved in the killing; he was initially sentenced to just under four years, a term later increased to six years by the Court of Appeal. The court highlighted the chaotic nature of the shooting, where Barr was shot seven times, and the unusual circumstances of the defendants' travel arrangements as supporting evidence for the conviction.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: DNA evidence enough to prove man guilty of Sunset House murder. Charges or matters: the murder of Mr Barr at the Sunset House pub on Summerhill Parade in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016; buying mobile phones for the gang who murdered Mr Barr. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- April 25, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-07-15 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the murder of Mr Barr at the Sunset House pub on Summerhill Parade in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Slator will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment later today.
Appellant
Charges: buying mobile phones for the gang who murdered Mr Barr (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: David Hunter (43) of Du Cane Road, White City, London, was also jailed for life for the murder of Mr Barr. Eamon Cumberton, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7 was jailed for life for the murder in 2019.
Appellant
Charges: buying mobile phones for the gang who murdered Mr Barr (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Eamon Cumberton, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7 was jailed for life for the murder in 2019. A fourth man, Martin Aylmer (36) of Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3 was sentenced to a little under four years after he pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang who murdered Mr Barr.
Appellant
Charges: buying mobile phones for the gang who murdered Mr Barr (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Martin Aylmer (36) of Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3 was sentenced to a little under four years after he pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang who murdered Mr Barr.
Defendant
Charges: the murder of Mr Barr at the Sunset House pub on Summerhill Parade in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Sunset House
- Special Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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