Boy accused of murdering Ana hugged by parents
THE second teenager charged with the murder of schoolgirl Ana Kriegel was tightly hugged by his parents before he was led away from court.
The 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was further remanded in custody for two weeks yesterday for the preparation of the book of evidence.
The youth is accused of murdering 14-year-old Ana at Glenwood House, Laraghcon, Clonee Road, Lucan on May 14 last. Her body was found at the disused farmhouse three days after she was reported missing.
The boy has been held in custody at the Oberstown detention centre in north Dublin since July 12 when he was charged. He faced his fourth hearing before Judge John Cheatle at Dublin the Children’s Court yesterday.
Custody
The teenager was accompanied to court by his solicitor and his parents for the brief hearing in which he was further remanded in custody to appear again on August 28 next.
A book of evidence is currently being prepared by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). A State solicitor said it was not yet ready and she asked for an adjournment of two weeks.
Defence solicitor David Powderly said there was consent to the adjournment and Judge Cheatle further remanded the boy in custody for two weeks.
Wearing black jeans and a pink hoodie, the boy was first greeted by his mother when he walked into the courtroom. He smiled and looked pleased to see his parents.
His mother smiled back at him, tenderly held his face in her hands and kissed him. She sat beside him in the dock and clasped his hands during the short hearing. After he was remanded in custody, the couple hugged their son tightly as the boy embraced them.
At the first hearing on July 12, Detective Sergeant Damien Gannon gave evidence of his arrest at the boy’s home that morning and being charged at Lucan garda station.
He had said the teenager “made no reply to the charge after caution”.
Anastasia, known as Ana, who was adopted from Russia aged two, left her house in Leixlip around 5pm on May 14. When she did not come home, gardaí were alerted. Her body was found at the disused farmhouse three days later.
The co-accused, now aged 14, has been released pending trial after bail was granted by the High Court.
He is due to appear again before the Children’s Court later this month. He was the first to be charged with Ana’s murder.
There has been no indication yet as to how either boy intends to plead.