Courts / Meath / Report

Murderer who bludgeoned man to death over breeding prowess of Chihuahua fails in appeal

Date
2024-06-06

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Ratoath

County
Meath

Summary

In a Court of Appeal hearing on 6 June 2024, the appeal of Josh Turner, aged 31, was dismissed. Turner had been convicted in 2017 of murdering Christopher Nevin, a 31‑year‑old man he had loaned a Chihuahua to breed, after a dispute over payment. The incident occurred on 19 November 2015 on Tailteann Road, Navan. Turner and his co‑accused, Wayne Cluskey, both carried hatchets to the scene. Turner struck Nevin with a hatchet several times, while Cluskey also struck Nevin. Turner claimed a loss of self‑control after Nevin threatened him, but the trial judge instructed the jury that a defence of provocation or self‑defence would only apply if the accused had a total loss of self‑control and was not acting in self‑defence. The appellate court found no error in the judge's directions and rejected all grounds of appeal. The case remains a murder conviction with a life sentence. Josh Turner pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murderer who bludgeoned man to death over breeding prowess of Chihuahua fails in appeal. Charges or matters: the murder of Christopher Nevin at Tailteann Road, Navan, Co Meath, on November 19, 2015. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

November 19, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
February 27, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
2024-06-06 Publication

Case subjects

Josh Turner

Appellant

Charges: the murder of Christopher Nevin at Tailteann Road, Navan, Co Meath, on November 19, 2015 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Turner was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy at the Central Criminal Court on February 27, 2017. His co-accused, Wayne Cluskey, who was then 25, and also of Mooretown Road, was found not guilty of the murder of Mr Nevin but guilty of his manslaughter and sentenced to nine years' imprisonment.