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Dumbrell brothers appeal murder conviction

Summary

The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved its judgment on the appeal by Warren and Jeffrey Dumbrell against their second conviction for the murder of Christopher Cawley. The brothers, who pleaded not guilty to killing the 33-year-old at Tyrone Place flats in Inchicore on October 29, 2006, were sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2011. Their initial 2008 conviction was quashed in 2010 as unsafe due to judicial comments, leading to a retrial. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that the trial judge erred by failing to properly direct the jury against conducting internet enquiries and by not warning the jury about the victim's previous convictions for carrying knives, which Jeffrey Dumbrell claimed were relevant to his self-defence claim. The prosecution, represented by Paul Burns SC, countered that the brothers received a fair trial and that the jury was trusted to act judicially. The court heard that Cawley's family witnessed the fatal stabbing. The appeal is currently pending, with the Chief Justice indicating that the judgment will be reserved.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dumbrell brothers appeal murder conviction. Charges or matters: murdering the 33-year-old on October 29th, 2006. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• February 2011 Other
• October 29th, 2006 Incident
• July 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2014-02-14 Publication

Why: The brothers' first conviction in 2008 was deemed 'unsafe' by the Court of Criminal Appeal in July 2010, because of comments made by Mr Justice Paul Carney in a lecture he gave while presiding over the case. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report