Courts / Dublin / Report

Witness says murder accused told him he struck deceased with a hammer

Date
2025-04-02
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Blanchardstown
County
Dublin

Summary

During the Central Criminal Court hearing, a jury heard that Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) denied murder charges for the death of Mahamud Ilyas on 9 December 2022. Witness Abdi‑Aziz Mohamed testified that Doroscan had told him, in a conversation on that day, that he and Clejan had struck Ilyas with a hammer during a fight and then left him on a field. Mohamed also recounted that Doroscan had made a "callout video" as a joke after claiming to be looking for a person who owed him money for cocaine. Mohamed described seeing a hammer in Doroscan's bag in August 2022 and later learning that Ilyas had been found dead. The jury heard that Doroscan and Clejan had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, while Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21) faced separate charges of impeding prosecution. The court heard no verdict or sentencing, only the evidence presented at this stage of the trial.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Witness says murder accused told him he struck deceased with a hammer. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Why: "I didn't say it because I had a lot of things on my mind," replied Mr Mohamed, going on to say that he had been "traumatised for months" after Mr Ilyas's death. CNI source report

Case subjects

Lorenzo Cantaragiu

Co Accused

Plea: Not guilty

Otniel Richardo Clejan

Accused

Plea: Not guilty

Viorel Doroscan

Accused

Plea: Not guilty

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Residence

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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