The parents of a German student who was stabbed to death in Dublin made a victim impact statement in court yesterday in which they described their grief.
The statement concluded with a few words on the Thomas Heinrich scholarship, which his parents set up with Griffith College Dublin following their son’s death.
A Dublin man has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of a German student in 2012. Another Dublin youth is due to be sentenced today for the murder of the student and the assault of another.
Thomas Heinrich (22) and Robert Rinker (25) were stabbed on St Anthony’s Road in Rialto on December 1st, 2012. Mr Rinker survived but Mr Heinrich died as a result of the injuries he sustained.
Wesley Kelly (20) of St Anthony’s Road, Rialto, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
In a victim impact statement, the parents of the deceased described the “crippling depression” they were suffering as a result of the “sudden violent death” of their son.
The court heard “all possible futures” had been taken from the Heinrich family, who would “never attend his graduation, his wedding or hold his children” in their arms.
The statement said they were selling their family home as it is “too painful” to live there.
The Heinrichs (above) said they had been shocked to discover the ages of those involved in their son’s death.