Jooda Akanbi claims self-defence in murder trial

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

Jooda Akanbi (39) was on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with murdering Taiwo Jamani (45) on 13 November 2013, the date Mr Jamani died in hospital from a traumatic brain injury.

Mr Akanbi has pleaded not guilty. The proceedings were reported on 22 April 2015.

The trial had heard that two men wielding baseball bats fought in broad daylight on Main Street, Swords, Co Dublin, on 10 October 2013.

Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, prosecuting, argued that Mr Akanbi was the aggressor and had used unreasonable and excessive force. He told the jury that self-defence could reduce murder to manslaughter or result in a not-guilty verdict, but submitted that there was ample evidence for a murder verdict or, at least, manslaughter.

The trial heard that Mr Akanbi admitted hitting Mr Jamani over the head when gardaí approached him at the scene, and again in court, but denied it during Garda interviews.

Defence barrister Patrick Marrinan SC said the incident happened “in a flash” and prosecution witnesses gave conflicting accounts. He argued that Mr Jamani had gone down the street after Mr Akanbi, while his client had not moved towards Mr Jamani. He noted that one witness agreed Mr Jamani might have taken the first bat from his client’s car.

Mr Marrinan acknowledged that his client struck a forceful blow, noting the pathologist’s finding of a single blow. He also said his client had called gardaí on both occasions when he had come into contact with Mr Jamani.

The trial was continuing.