Man found guilty of attempting to murder his sleeping wife

A 42-year-old man has been found guilty of attempting to murder his sleeping wife by hitting her over her head with a hammer on the morning of her birthday.

Andrzej Benko (42) of Ladyswell Road, Mulhuddert, Dublin had admitted hitting Joanna Benko's head with a lump hammer at least three times. However, he had pleaded not guilty to her attempted murder at that address on July 5, 2010.

The four-day trial heard that Mrs Benko is confined to a wheel chair most of the time as a result of her injuries. Now 35, she also has communication difficulties and will depend on full-time care for the rest of her life.

The Central Criminal Court heard that the couple had been having marital problems, with the accused telling Gardaí that his wife had been taking and dealing drugs and spending all his money.

Despite their difficulties, he went out and bought her 10 red roses on the morning of her 32nd birthday, and was planning to take her out to dinner that evening.

However he said she was in a deep sleep and didn’t wake when he tried to talk to her on his return. He said he was disappointed.

He saw a lump hammer while looking for a vase for the flowers and thought about hitting her with it. Then, instead of bringing her the roses, he carried the hammer upstairs and hit her with it three times as she lay sleeping.

The jury was shown the lump hammer during the trial, along with a photograph of 10 fresh red roses, which Gardaí found in a vase in the kitchen.

After the assault, Benko got into his car and drove the short journey to Blanchardstown Garda station, calling the emergency services on the way.

A recording of the emergency call was played in court.

“The problem is that probably I killed my wife and now I’m on my way to you to be jailed,” he said. “Ring an ambulance. Maybe you can save her because I hit her by hammer in head.”

A garda forced down the front door of the house and found Mrs Benko having a seizure with her hands on her head. She was rushed to hospital, underwent neurosurgery and was discharged more than a year later.

Benko told Gardaí that he intended to kill his wife that morning.

“When I was going upstairs, I intended to kill her,” he said. “Of course I’m guilty.”

He said his wife’s drug taking had made his and their three-year-old son’s life hell, adding that the toddler had found a bag of her ecstasy tablets.

“I was sick of her,” he said.

“I was afraid she would kill my son by him finding drugs,” he said.

He was asked if he decided to kill his wife to protect their son.

“You could say that,” he replied.

The jury of two women and 10 men took two hours and 40 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict of guilty.

Remy Farrell SC, defending, asked Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy to remand his client on continuing bail. He said he wanted to make provisions for the care of his now seven-year-old son and put affairs concerning their home in order.

The State opposed bail and the judge refused Mr Farrell’s application.

“It’s a sad situation of course because his mother can’t look after him,” he said, but noted that a custodial sentence was inevitable and that the boy was already being cared for.

He said the accused could put his other affairs in order through a solicitor and remanded him in custody for sentencing on April 7th.

Mrs Benko and members of both families looked on as he was led away.