A Limerick man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering a retired soldier by choking him with the handle of a sweeping brush.
Christopher McNamara (21), of Good Shepherd Villas, Pennywell Road had pleaded not guilty to the murder of 71-year-old James Boyce at his home in St Munchin’s Street, St Mary’s Park in Limerick between March 6 and 7, 2011.
The court heard that Mr Boyce had been the victim of an assault with a long striking edge and that the fatal injuries were those on his neck, where multiple fractures of the larynx were found.
The two-week trial heard that McNamara had confessed killing Mr Boyce to his mother.
In a statement read to the jury, Pauline Whelan had asked McNamara: “Did you do it son?” to which he replied: “I did, Mam”.
The statement then revealed that McNamara admitted he had choked Mr Boyce with the handle of a sweeping brush, demonstrating with his hands how he had done it.
Full report in next Thursday’s Limerick Post.
