A Limerick man has begun a life sentence after he was found guilty of murdering another man in the city last year.
David Bridgeman (22), of O’Malley Park denied murdering Charlie Molloy (36), at John Carew Park on February 23rd last year.
The defence conceded the accused had killed the victim, hitting him over the head 12 times with a hammer, but said the killing was not premeditated.
State pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy told the court during the trial that Mr Molloy choked on his own blood after he suffered fractures to his skull, cheek and jaw bones.
Prof Cassidy told the jury of nine men and three women that the deceased had been struck from behind before he was repeatedly hit while on the ground unconscious.
Senior counsel for the prosecution, Paddy McCarthy, said there was no indication that Mr Molloy provoked Mr Bridgeman or caused him to lose control of his mind.
“If you take a hammer and bring it to bear upon a man’s head, you intend to cause injury,” Mr McCarthy said.
He said the defendant’s actions were that of “a calculated mind”.
Anthony Sammon SC for the defence said Bridgeman had given Mr Molloy “a terrible, terrible death”.
He said, however, that the law has made a concession to the frailties of human nature in the case of people who lose control of their mind when they perpetrate a crime.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court deliberated for one hour and 24 minutes before returning a unanimous guilty verdict on the murder charge.
Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed a mandatory life sentence on Mr Bridgeman. He thanked the jury for their careful attention and excused them of jury service for the rest of their lives.