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Man jailed for murdering pregnant ex-girlfriend has conviction quashed on appeal
Summary
Stephen Cahoon, aged 42, had been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his pregnant ex‑girlfriend, Jean Teresa Quigley, 30, who was 10 weeks pregnant when she was strangled on 26 July 2008. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty on 30 April 2012, and Mr Justice Barry White imposed the life sentence. On 4 March 2015 the Court of Appeal quashed Cahoon's conviction, citing a misdirection by the trial judge regarding the defence of provocation. The appeal was successful because the judge's brief statement that provocation could not involve intent was deemed a mistake at a crucial point in the jury's deliberation. The Court ordered a retrial and remanded Cahoon in custody, noting that a retrial would be his third attempt after six years already served. The case was notable for being the first trial under the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act 1976 before a jury in the Republic of Ireland.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man jailed for murdering pregnant ex-girlfriend has conviction quashed on appeal. Charges or matters: murder. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- July 26, 2008 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 30 2012 Adjournment
- Monday April 13 Adjournment
- 2015-03-04 Publication
Why: Mr Justice White had told the jury, Mr O'Higgins said, that the concept of provocation could not involve intention because a person is not a master of their own mind when they lose self control. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: murder (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: A jury of seven women and five men unanimously found him guilty of murder at the Central Criminal Court on April 30 2012 and he was immediately sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Barry White.; remanded in custody
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- Special Criminal Court
- Harvey Street
- Magherafelt
Topics
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