Josh Turner convicted of murder in Navan dog row

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

Josh Turner was convicted of murder at the Central Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 17 February 2017. Christopher Nevin was killed at Tailteann Road, Navan, on 19 November 2015. Wayne Cluskey was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The jury returned both verdicts by ten-to-two majorities after more than two days of deliberations. Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded both men in custody until 27 February for a sentencing hearing.

The report said the killing followed an argument over a pedigree chihuahua. It described Josh Turner picking up an axe dropped by Wayne Cluskey and striking Christopher Nevin several times, including blows to the head that Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis said caused his death. The report said Wayne Cluskey took a hatchet from Christopher Nevin’s hands and struck him twice on the body.

The State’s main witness, Wayne Casserly, and Josh Turner said Christopher Nevin had a hatchet when he answered the door. Wayne Cluskey gave the same account to gardai. Josh Turner said Christopher Nevin threatened to chop his head off and that he backed away. Josh Turner claimed he lost all self-control after Christopher Nevin threatened him with the hatchet and struck Wayne Casserly with it as they struggled on the ground. Wayne Cluskey said he was defending Josh Turner when he ran in carrying the axe.