Thurles Information

Accused is alleged to have brought sofa down on head of his mother’s intoxicated partner, causing his death.

The deceased man, Mr Jonathan (John) Ustic, a native of the UK, had been located dead, on September 24th 2017 last, in a rented terraced house, situated at No 51, High Street, Skibbereen, Co. Cork.

Mr Andrew Nash, latter aged 43 years, and formerly holding an address in Thurles, Co Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Mr Ustic.

It was alleged that a sofa was lifted and brought down repeatedly on the head of the 51-year-old man, who was lying defenceless on the floor of his rented residence, thus leading to his eventual death.

Senior Counsel for the Prosecution, Mr Seán Gillane presented a jury of seven men and five women with an outline of the allegations in the case, same being made against the accused in the trial held at the Central Criminal Court, presently sitting in Cork, presided over by Mr Justice Michael McGrath.

The late Mr Ustic had been living with his long-term partner Ms Suzanne Fenton, who has sadly also since died. Latter was the mother of the now accused Mr Andrew Nash.

On Sunday 24th, the accused had received a phone call from his mother. On entering her place of residence Mr Nash, it was alledged, had gone upstairs and physically struck Mr Ustic a number of blows, causing an injury to his cheek. The parties in the house left sometime after that, before returning to High Street, Skibbereen, Co. Cork at 7.40pm; with the late Mr Ustic having consumed a considerable amount of alcohol. Mr Ustic was pulled violently out of the car, striking his head off the ground in the carpark area, as a result of which he suffered further injury. He was left abandoned in a prone position on the carpark grounds, causing passers-by certain concerns, before being carried into the house, apparently insensible, by Mr Nash and a companion Mr Gillane.

According to Mr Gillane, Mr Nash attacked Mr Ustic while he was on the ground. He stamped on his face, sliced his ear with a broken bottle, beforen lifting a sofa that the defenceless Mr Ustic was lying next to, bringing it down repeatedly on the now deceased mans head and chest area.

On the Monday morning following the alleged assaults, which had occurred on the previous evening, the alarm was raised. Emergency services, on arrival, pronounced Mr Ustic dead at the scene.

The cause of death was described, following an autopsy report, as caused by blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest, with acute intoxication also being a contributory factor.

When interviewed later by Gardaí, Mr Nash accepted that he had given the deceased a couple of slaps, but denied inflicting the injuries that had brought about his death.