Wesley Kelly on trial for murder and assault causing harm

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

Wesley Kelly went on trial at the Central Criminal Court on 13 May 2014, charged with murdering Thomas Heinrich and assault causing harm to Robert Rinker. The proceedings were reported on 13 May 2014.

Wesley Kelly has pleaded not guilty to both charges. A 17-year-old co-accused, who cannot be named because of his age, also denies both charges.

Thomas Heinrich, 22, died after he and Robert Rinker were stabbed on St Anthony's Road in Rialto on 1 December 2012. Robert Rinker survived.

Tara Burns SC, prosecuting, told the jury that both accused had gone to the apartment looking for a fight and were being prosecuted on the basis of joint enterprise.

Tara Burns SC said Robert Rinker went downstairs and a physical altercation occurred. Thomas Heinrich followed, but both returned upstairs when they saw that one of the accused had a knife. She said the two students then went back downstairs with blades.

Tara Burns SC said some, but not all, of the events were captured on CCTV. She acknowledged that the prosecution could not say who did what, but said joint enterprise meant each accused would be liable for the acts that occurred. She maintained that self-defence or excessive self-defence was not made out on the facts.

The trial continued before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of three women and nine men. It was expected to last two weeks.