Courts / Wicklow / Report

Woman goes on trial accused of murdering colleague by driving him in to harbour

Summary

In a Wicklow harbour murder trial, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, Marta Herda, was charged with killing her 31‑year‑old Hungarian colleague, Csaba Orsas, by driving her car through harbour barriers into the sea. Prosecutor Brendan Grehan presented evidence that the car entered the water at high speed, that Herda was the driver, and that Orsas was a front‑seat passenger. He noted that Herda could swim while Orsas could not, and that the body was found drowned on a beach two miles away. Testimony from a security guard described a high‑speed vehicle and a woman screaming near the quay, later identified as Herda. Garda Fiona Furlong recounted finding Herda wet and distressed, pointing to the harbour. The case was opened to the Central Criminal Court, with a three‑week trial before Mr Justice McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman goes on trial accused of murdering colleague by driving him in to harbour. Charges or matters: murdering 31-year-old Csaba Orsas on March 26, 2013. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• March 26, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-07-05 Publication

Why: He explained that the incident happened at the harbour wall in Arklow, where the Avoca river flowed into the sea. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report