Courts / Louth / Report

Jury begin deliberating in trial of man accused of axe murder

Date
2015-04-29

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Drogheda

County
Louth

Summary

The trial of Marius Gaizutis, 52, of Marsh Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Gaizutis is charged with the alleged murder of Audrius Butkus, 44, at that address on September 9 or 10, 2013. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the State rejected the latter plea, resulting in a jury trial. Prosecution counsel Patrick Gageby SC argued that forensic evidence, including skull fractures and a deliberate clean-up, demonstrated intent to kill. Defence counsel Ciaran O'Loughlin SC contended that Gaizutis acted under provocation and lost control, supporting a manslaughter verdict. Justice Margaret Heneghan charged the jury to decide the facts based on oral evidence and exhibits. After two hours and eleven minutes of deliberation, the jury was instructed to suspend deliberations until Friday morning at 10am, as there is no court sitting tomorrow. The matter remains adjourned pending the jury's final decision.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury begin deliberating in trial of man accused of axe murder. Charges or matters: murder. Procedural stage: trial

When:

September 30 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
2015-04-29 Publication

Why: Mr Gageby then summarised the forensic evidence for the jury saying it was pertinent that no fingerprints were found on the axe or anything else connected with this murder and one explanation for this was because it was quite a good clean up. CNI source report