Vesel Jahiri pleads not guilty to murder in Clonsilla

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

Vesel Jahiri has pleaded not guilty to murdering Anna Finnegan and to assaulting Karl Finnegan, causing him harm. Both charges concern alleged offences at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on 21 September 2012.

The proceedings were reported on 1 March 2017. Mr Patrick Marrinan SC opened the prosecution case to a jury at the Central Criminal Court.

Counsel said the jury would hear evidence that Vesel Jahiri entered the house armed with a knife and attacked Karl Finnegan. He said Karl Finnegan was struck twice, suffering a fracture to the orbit of his eye and a chest stab wound. Counsel said Anna Finnegan fled outside, followed by the accused, and later collapsed in the driveway.

Counsel acknowledged that nobody would say they saw Vesel Jahiri stab Anna Finnegan, and said the jury could draw inferences from known facts. He said the prosecution case was that the accused stabbed her, immediately regretted it and drove her to James Connolly Memorial Hospital, but that taking her to hospital did not absolve him.

Outlining the accused’s account, counsel said Vesel Jahiri went to give Anna Finnegan money and admitted breaking down the door after being refused access. He said Karl Finnegan confronted him with a knife or knives, and that he took a knife from Karl Finnegan and stabbed him in self-defence. He denied stabbing Anna Finnegan, saying Karl Finnegan stabbed his sister during the encounter or, alternatively, that he did not know how she received her fatal injuries.

The report said the trial would continue the following day before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of nine men and three women. It was expected to last four to five weeks.