A 22-year-old man, who stabbed a man in the neck because he said he could not pay money that he owed for drugs, has been found guilty of murder.
Brandon Gavin, of Brookdale Road, Swords in Dublin, was convicted of the murder of 19-year-old Marius Mamaliga.
He died after he was stabbed at a housing estate in Swords last year.
Gavin was remanded in custody for sentencing next month.
At around 7pm on 23 February 2023, Mr Mamaliga was sitting in his car with two friends at Forest Court in Swords.
He was in the driver’s seat with the engine running.
Gavin arrived and opened the back door, got into the passenger seat, reached into the front seat and stabbed Mr Mamaliga once in the neck before fleeing.
The attack took just 14 seconds but Gavin dropped his mobile phone and two medical appointment cards in the back of the car which were recovered by gardai.
Later that night, he went to Swords Garda Station with his father who told the garda on duty that his son wanted to hand himself in.
Mr Mamaliga was taken from the scene by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital where he underwent surgery.
He died three days later.
Gavin told gardaí he acted in self defence as he was in fear for his life because he owed money for drugs.
However, prosecuting counsel Ronan Kennedy said that it was murder “plain and simple”.
The jury of seven men and five women at the Central Criminal Court convicted him of murder by a unanimous verdict.
Ms Justice Eileen Creedon remanded Gavin in custody for sentencing on 2 December when a victim impact statement will be heard.
He faces a mandatory term of life in prison.
