A 32-year-old Albanian man has been jailed for life for murdering of a Belfast man in Waterford in August 2001.
After deliberating for more than eight hours the Central Criminal Court jury found Isuf Kryzi, aka Ismet Ceka, guilty of the murder of 44-year-old Thomas McAuley on August 13th 2001. The verdict was split 10-2.
Isuf Kryzi, an Albanian Kosovar with an address at Manor Street, Waterford had denied murdering Mr McAuley, originally of Farringdon Court, Ardoyne. As the guilty verdict was read out Kryzi appeared stunned and he put his head in hands.
The court had heard evidence from eyewitnesses that the two men were fighting on the street outside a public house in the city centre. The victim fell on to his back and he was "pleading" with the accused to stop and putting his hands up in a defensive manner.
Another witness said he saw a knife in the right hand of one of the men and he could see blood coming from beneath Mr McAuley who was lying on the ground. Kryzi then ran in the direction of the hostel in Manor Street where he was living at the time.
The court heard that the deceased man had had a relationship with Ms Samantha O'Brien and they had a five-year-old daughter. When the relationship ended, Ms O'Brien began a new relationship with Kryzi who the deceased believed was assaulting his young daughter.
The court heard evidence that Mr McAuley was stabbed six times. When Kryzi was arrested shortly after the killing he was found in possession of a blood stained knife.
The state claimed that Kryzi bought the knife three-and-a-half hours before the killing.
Imposing the mandatory life sentence, Mr Justice Carney refused leave to appeal. He then thanked the jury and exempted them from further service for 15 years.