TEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER
Angry crowds gather as accused, 18, led into court
A TEENAGER was last night charged with the murder of a Japanese call centre worker.
Mohamed Morei, 18, was hauled before Dundalk District Court in Co Louth amid angry scenes outside.
During the hearing, where he was accused of knifing Yosuke Sasaki, 24, to death, the accused shouted “I am no gay” and “I am no Muslim”.
Inspector Martin Beggy told Judge
Gerry Jones: “There is an issue with his nationality – that it is undetermined at the moment.”
The accused was flanked by three uniformed officers and sat with his head raised throughout the five-minute hearing, occasionally speaking in Arabic.
Garda Damien Welby, of Blackrock Garda station, said he arrested Morei at The Crescent, Dundalk, at 4.31pm yesterday and charged him at 5.20pm with murder.
He made no reply after he was cautioned.
Judge Jones asked if the accused understood what was happening and Insp Beggy said he had been accompanied by an interpreter during his detention and in court.
When asked if he had identified any issues to gardai, Insp Beggy replied: “We have a concern, he has expressed certain matters to us and we would have concerns.” Solicitor Barry Callan asked to be assigned to the case under legal aid and requested all medical assistance, including psychiatric care, be given to his client while in custody.
The judge asked if the incident was a “random assault” to which Insp Beggy replied: “There is nothing in common with the deceased and the alleged attacker.”
He also directed an Arabic interpreter be provided to the accused during the case.
Morei was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court next Thursday via video link.
As he arrived to the courthouse in a Garda van a large crowd had gathered at the front of the steps.
Gardai were forced to push back a large number of people during the incident as Armed Response Officers, carrying MP7 submachine guns, placed a cordon around the court.