Courts / Dublin / Report
Life sentence for man (22) who murdered one-time friend
Summary
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, was sentenced to a mandatory life term in prison for the murder of his former friend, Marius Mamaliga, who was stabbed in the neck on 23 February 2023. The victim's parents, Inga and Victor Mamaliga, delivered an emotional impact statement, describing the loss as a void that will never be filled. Gavin had pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence after a drug debt dispute, but the jury found his defence "self‑serving nonsense." Witnesses testified that Gavin had been messaging women on Tinder minutes before the attack and had searched for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" the day before. Marius was in the driver's seat with two friends when Gavin entered the rear passenger side, reached across, stabbed him once in the neck, and fled. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and died three days later.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Life sentence for man (22) who murdered one-time friend. Charges or matters: the murder of Mr Mamaliga at Forest Court, Swords, on the evening of February 23, 2023, with the jury in his trial hearing that he told gardaí that Mr Mamaliga "came at" him so he defended himself, claiming that he feared for his life as he owed a drug debt of €2,500. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 23, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 26 Other
- 2024-12-02 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the murder of Mr Mamaliga at Forest Court, Swords, on the evening of February 23, 2023, with the jury in his trial hearing that he told gardaí that Mr Mamaliga "came at" him so he defended himself, claiming that he feared for his life as he owed a drug debt of €2,500 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: A 22-year-old man has received the mandatory sentence of life in prison for murdering his one-time friend by stabbing him in the neck, with the victim's heartbroken parents saying they have been left with "a void that will never be filled". "He never thought his days were numbered by someone who would attack him from behind," said Inga and Victor Mamaliga of their son Marius (19), in an emotional victim impact statement delivered to the Central Criminal Court today during the sentencing of Brandon Gavin.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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