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Man jailed for life moves to appeal Cork murder conviction
Summary
Ciprian Grozavu, a 42‑year‑old Romanian, was convicted of murdering Jonathan Duke in Bandon on 12 November 2011 and received a mandatory life sentence from Mr Justice Paul Carney on 17 July 2013. He has now filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal. His barrister, Thomas Creed SC, argued that the trial judge failed to give the jury a clear option to return a manslaughter verdict, potentially prejudicing another case, and that the judge incorrectly addressed the jury on common design and did not discharge them at the end of the prosecution's case. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Timothy O'Leary SC, maintained that the trial was never a murder/manslaughter trial and that the defence had always claimed Grozavu did not commit the murder. The three‑judge panel, consisting of Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, has reserved judgment on the appeal. Ciprian Grozavu pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man jailed for life moves to appeal Cork murder conviction. Charges or matters: the murder of Mr Duke at Bridge House, Bandon on November 12, 2011; Mr Duke's murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on July 17, 2013. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- November 12, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 17, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-06-20 Publication
Why: Had Grozavu been found guilty of manslaughter, Mr O'Leary said the conviction would not have made any sense because nobody in court was arguing for that result. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the murder of Mr Duke at Bridge House, Bandon on November 12, 2011; Mr Duke's murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on July 17, 2013 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Grozavu was found guilty of Mr Duke's murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on July 17, 2013.
Places mentioned
- Bridge House
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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