A 21-year-old Dublin man has been convicted of the manslaughter of a young electronic technician who was randomly stabbed as he stood outside a house in a north Dublin suburb last year.
A jury of five women and seven men at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday found Stephen Kelly of Westpark, Artane, Dublin, not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Jonathan Guy (21), Belcamp Crescent, Priorswood, outside a house at Newgrove estate, Donaghmede, Dublin, in March 2001.
The victim spent a week in Beaumont Hospital after suffering the fatal wound to his chest, which penetrated his heart and lungs. He died as a result of his injuries on March 11th.
The accused sat with his head down and cried as the guilty verdict was delivered. Mr Guy's parents, Sheila and John, had sat through the 13-day trial and were in court to hear the verdict.
The victim was a graduate of Dundalk Institute of Technology and was working in a computer company on Dublin's north-side when he was killed. During the trial there was disputed evidence over whether or not Mr Guy was an innocent bystander at a row outside a house party or if he had come to the house with a friend, Mr Peter Gallagher, looking for trouble.
Kelly first told gardaí that he had been hit when he left the house and swung the knife as a second fellow came at him. But in a second statement made after Mr Guy had died he admitted that Mr Guy was, in fact, unarmed.
The evidence of Ms Jennifer O'Hara (17) brought into question whether or not Mr Guy was holding a weapon of some sort as he stood in the driveway. It was Ms O'Hara who had invited friends, including Kelly, to the house on the fatal night. She had been put out of her own house for taking ecstasy, and was left in charge of another house where she had the party.
The deputy state pathologist gave evidence that the deceased died on March 11th as a result of the stab wound to his chest. Attempts to save his life were unsuccessful due to massive blood loss, which rendered him brain dead and caused cardiac arrest.
She said the stab wound had entered the chest cavity at a "downward angle", but said a number of variables would have to be taken into account to say what the "true angle" was.
Kelly was remanded in custody for sentencing on February 18th. Mr Justice White said the victim's mother would then have the opportunity "to give evidence as to how this killing of her son is affecting her and her family".