Court of Appeal rejects Thomas Wymbs’s conviction appeal

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal has rejected Thomas Wymbs’s appeal against his rape conviction. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said there was no reason to suppose the jury had failed to apply the legal principles set out in the trial judge’s charge.

The appeal challenged the trial judge’s handling of prosecution closing remarks and expert evidence about alcohol. The court found the judge’s treatment of the expert evidence did not make the jury charge deficient, and noted that the defence had an opportunity to respond to the closing speech. It also said the jury had been told not to speculate. The court rejected the appeal.