Courts / Dublin / Report

Pair guilty of beating 22-year-old to death over stolen cannabis

Summary

Two men, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), were found guilty of murdering 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas after a dispute over a stolen bag of cannabis. The jury, after seven hours and 52 minutes of deliberation over four days, returned a unanimous verdict rejecting the defence's claim of self‑defence. The prosecution presented evidence that Doroscan and Clejan beat Ilyas to death, using a hammer and a fruit knife, and then disposed of his body in a wooded area on Belgree Lane, County Meath. Witnesses described Ilyas as bound, bleeding from the nose, and in pain while the accused shouted for the stolen drugs. The trial also considered the role of co‑accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21), who faced charges of impeding the prosecution and was found to have driven the accused and the deceased to the site. Viorel Doroscan pleaded not guilty. Otniel Richardo Clejan pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pair guilty of beating 22-year-old to death over stolen cannabis. Charges or matters: all charges; the murder of Mr Ilyas on December 9, 2022. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• December 10, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• December 9, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• December 9 2022 Other
• 2025-05-20 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Theft

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Read the original CNI report