Jury are to hear evidence man (49) died after head was stomped on

Alison O’Riordan

A murder trial jury are to hear evidence that a 49-year-old man died after his head was stomped on, and the panel will have to consider the accused's intent at the time.

The 12 jurors were also told by defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC on Wednesday that the accused Tomas Cypas admits hitting the deceased "over the course of the particular weekend".

Cypas (35), with an address at Foxborough Road, Lucan, Co Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Juris Kokenbergs (49) at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin on October 28th 2024.

In his opening address to the Central Criminal Court jury today, Conor Devally SC, prosecuting, said "interestingly" the date of October 28th 2024 could be a matter of some confusion in the case.

Counsel said the act of killing someone isn't just the violence inflicted, and it only comes to completion when a person dies.

Outlining the facts of the case, Devally said Juris Kokenbergs had called into the house of the accused man's mother on Saturday, October 26th and that "drink had formed part of the day".

He said sometime during that day, Kokenbergs sustained a very serious injury.

Counsel said that most of the events of the case "centre" around the evening of October 26th.

Devally said an assault was perpetrated by Cypas on Kokenbergs late on the night of October 26th and "maybe into the early hours of the following morning".

"Over the following number of hours the late Mr Kokenbergs expired and finally died," he said.

The prosecution barrister went on to tell the court that Mr Kokenbergs had occupied a couch adjacent to the kitchen area for the following day, October 27th - after these injuries were inflicted.

Counsel said it is the prosecution's case that Kokenberg had died "from stomping on the head".

Brendan Grehan SC, defending Mr Cypas, made a number of admissions on behalf of his client, including that the accused had hit Mr Kokenbergs "over the course of the particular weekend" and that the principal issue for the jury's consideration is Cypas' intent at the relevant time.

The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.