Courts / Mayo / Report
Psychiatrists disagree on whether insanity verdict open to husband accused of murdering wife, jury hears
Summary
A Central Criminal Court jury has heard that psychiatric evidence is disputed in the trial of James Kilroy (51), charged with murdering his wife Valerie French Kilroy (41) at their rural home near Westport and Castlebar in County Mayo in June 2019. Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that the accused is expected to accept he caused his wife's death by blunt force trauma, strangulation, and stabbing. A defence psychiatrist will testify that Mr Kilroy was experiencing cannabis-induced psychosis at the time and meets the legal criteria for a not guilty verdict by reason of insanity. A prosecution psychiatrist will contradict this assessment. The jury will also hear from toxicologists regarding intoxication, which cannot constitute a legal defence to murder. The court has been informed that four possible verdicts are available: guilty of murder, not guilty by reason of insanity, guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, or acquittal. Mr Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Psychiatrists disagree on whether insanity verdict open to husband accused of murdering wife, jury hears. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity
When:
- June 13th Hearing Or Sentence
- June 14th, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-07-10 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Finding Violent Crime
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