‘Monster’ guilty of dog breeder murder gets a life sentence

ONE man was imprisoned for life while another will be sentenced on Monday for his part in killing a man during an argument over a pedigree chihuahua.

Josh Turner (24), of Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath, was found guilty of murdering 27-year-old Christopher Nevin at a house on Tailteann Road, Navan, on November 19, 2015.

Wayne Cluskey (25), of the same address, was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter for his part in Mr Nevin’s death.

At a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Turner to life, the mandatory term for murder.

Mr Justice McCarthy remanded Cluskey in custody to be sentenced next week.

Victim-impact statements were prepared by Mr Nevin’s mother and wife.

Lisa Nevin said that her husband dreamed of having a big family.

“He had a heart of gold and if he had got the chance he would have been a brilliant father. Without him I just feel dead inside,” she said.

“The last memory I have of my husband is lying in a pool of blood.”

Mary Nevin described Turner (inset top) as a “monster” who had brutally murdered her son, robbing him of his future.

“I miss (Christopher’s) loud laugh, his smile. I miss seeing him and his wife happy,” she said.

“I want to hold him and tell him I love him, my poor child.” The court heard during the trial that Turner had loaned Mr Nevin a male chihuahua to breed with three female chihuahuas. But only one of the dogs became pregnant and a dispute arose. In his evidence to the trial, Turner said that Mr Nevin had agreed to pay him and that is why he and Cluskey (inset left) called to Mr Nevin’s house. Mr Nevin was struck with an axe several times during an altercation outside the house. The court was told that Turner has more than 200 convictions, most for road traffic offences. Cluskey has 41 previous convictions, all dealt with by the District Court.