Man cleared of murder after fatal stabbing in own home
A 33-yr-old man who stabbed a man in his own home in self-defense because he thought his life was in danger has been acquitted of murder by a Central Criminal Court jury.
The nine-man, three-woman jury handed down a majority verdict to Judge Mary Ellen Ring, reports RTE.
Jurors agreed with the defense’s case that Mateusz Batuk had the right to defend himself when he was attacked in his home.
They deliberated for a total of nine hours and 54 minutes over three days, reports RTE.
Mr Batuk had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael McDonagh, 24, at a housing estate in Swinford on 16 November 2020.
Ms Justice Ring thanked the jury for their service in what she described as a very difficult trial and granted the jury an exemption from jury service for a period of ten years.
Mr. McDonagh died from a single blow to the abdomen, which severed the iliac artery and caused rapid and fatal blood loss, reports RTE.
In his closing address to the jury, defense counsel Vincent Heneghan said that the defendant’s first words during the 999 call after Mr McDonagh was stabbed were “I did it in self-defence” and that during his interview at the Garda he maintained that stand, reports RTE.
However, the prosecution had argued that when Mr Batuk took a knife and “plunged” at Mr McDonagh, it was “with the intent of murder”, reports RTE.
Mr Batuk told Gardai “I did what I did to defend myself” and said he never intended to kill Mr McDonagh, reports RTE.
Members of Mr McDonagh’s family wept after the verdict was announced and expressed shock and dismay.
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