Courts / Waterford / Report
Gardai provided with clip from "American History X" film, murder trial hears
Summary
In the 2015 trial of William Moran, a 20‑year‑old Waterford man charged with the 2012 murder of Martin Brophy, the jury heard that Garda investigators were given a clip from the film "American History X". The clip shows a character forcing an intruder to bite a kerb and then striking him in the head, leading to death. Detective Garda Kevin Nolan confirmed that he received a disk titled "American History X" in the weeks after May 2012. Witness Davina Wrafter, 18, testified that she learned of Brophy's death from Gavin Walsh, who claimed Moran had struck Brophy with a brick and delivered three kicks to the head, stating he thought Brophy was already dead. Wrafter, then 15, was terrified and eventually reported the incident to Gardaí after seeing Walsh's Facebook post. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, continued under Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of four women and seven men. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Gardai provided with clip from "American History X" film, murder trial hears. Charges or matters: murdering Martin Brophy (22) at the old Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) building between May 19 and May 21 2012; the charge and is currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- May 19 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 21 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-03-11 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: murdering Martin Brophy (22) at the old Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) building between May 19 and May 21 2012; the charge and is currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin (Alleged Or Contested)
Accused
Charges: murdering Martin Brophy (22) at the old Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) building between May 19 and May 21 2012; the charge and is currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Connolly Place
- Waterford City
- Waterford
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Related court reports
- Mentally ill man who put fellow psychiatric patient in chokehold to be immediately released into care of UK parents
- Former Christian Brothers accused of breach of duty to be named in national newspaper
- Murderer claims reference to Conor McGregor brought 'toxic masculinity' baggage
- Combined 15-year sentence for violent rape and abuse is upheld
- High Court to consider publishing names of 340 former Christian Brothers
- Disability charity boss wins record €323k for 'egregious' whistleblower penalisation
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request