MEMBERS OF the Garda provided all the files, statements and postmortem results and travelled to Moldova for a murder trial, after extradition was refused, an inquest in Dublin heard yesterday.
A 28-year-old man who was assaulted on three separate occasions after leaving a friend’s party five years ago died of complications of head injuries caused by blunt force trauma to the head, an inquest has heard.
Vladislav Garuta, a Moldovan national of Castle Curragh Heath, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, attended the birthday party of a friend, Stanislav Vustean, at Park Place, Islandbridge, on November 27th, 2005.
He was assaulted by two men, both Moldovan nationals, on three occasions after leaving the party and died in the early hours of the following morning.
Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard that the men assaulted the victim outside the house at Park Place before following him and assaulting him again 30 yards down the road, and again in the bathroom of an apartment at Bridgewater Quay, Dublin 8.
After they left, the occupants found a very badly injured Mr Garuta, who was unconscious and had blood on his face and head, in the bathroom and alerted the emergency services.
He was rushed to St James’s Hospital, where he died in the early hours of November 28th.
Det Insp JJ Keane, of Kilmainham Garda station, told the inquest the accused persons left the jurisdiction immediately after the assault and that a trial took place in Moldova.
Extradition of the men was refused by the Moldovan authorities.
Both men were charged with “deliberate” murder of Mr Garuta. They were “recognised” guilty, but their actions were qualified as, “the intentional infliction of average injuries to the bodily integrity or health committed by two or more person”, said Det Insp Keane.
The men were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with three years suspended, and the sentence is being appealed by the Moldovan prosecutor as being too lenient.
Yesterday in Dublin a jury of six women returned a verdict of unlawful killing under the direction of coroner Dr Brian Farrell.
He asked the Garda to pass on his condolences to the Garuta family on behalf of the coroner’s office and on behalf of the whole community.