Ireland Crime

Article contains only the headline and website template code with no substantive body text.

Court of Appeal hearing of Gehlen's appeal. Defence argued the provocation/loss of self-control defence should have been put to the jury. Judges noted no evidence of loss of control and that the defence was inconsistent with the self-inflicted wound claim. Judgment reserved.

Reports the sentencing hearing on 22 October 2021, including victim impact statements from Anne Colomines' mother Danielle Gallard, father Jean-Louis Colomines and sister Alexandra Colomines, trial evidence on the injuries, the jury's reasoning, and details of Gehlen's prison conduct.

Reports the sentencing hearing where Mr Justice Michael McGrath imposed the mandatory life sentence, including victim impact statements from the Colomines family and trial evidence including the State Pathologist's findings on the wounds.

Sentencing hearing details: judge's remarks, victim impact statements from the Colomines family, prosecution and defence submissions, and background on the injuries and trial evidence.

Reports the sentencing to life imprisonment, the judge's remarks, family victim impact statements from the mother, father and sister, and key trial evidence including the pathologist's opinion and the defence's self-inflicted wound claim.

Reports the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, including victim impact statements from Anne Colomines' mother, father and sister, trial evidence on the injuries, and details of Gehlen's prison conduct.

Reports the sentencing to the mandatory term of life in prison, details of the stabbing (four wounds including a 22cm throat incision and defensive hand cuts), the State Pathologist's finding that self-infliction was highly unlikely, victim impact statements from the Colomines family, and background on the couple's relationship and the victim's new relationship in France.

Reports the full trial details: the unanimous jury verdict after 2½ hours, prosecution and defence arguments, the pathologist's evidence of four stab wounds, a 22cm throat wound and six defensive hand incisions, the 296 messages exchanged with her boyfriend, testimony from friend Ralph Comendador, and the judge's plan to impose a mandatory life sentence on 22 October 2021.

Reports the guilty verdict delivered on 29 September 2021, the jury's deliberation time, the prosecution's closing arguments about 'toxic masculinity', the pathologist's findings, the 296 messages with a new boyfriend, and the adjournment of sentencing to 22 October 2021.

Jury deliberations began on 28 September 2021; after one hour and 40 minutes the jury had not reached a unanimous verdict and was sent home. Prosecution argued Gehlen displayed 'ultimate in toxic masculinity' by stabbing his wife to control the end of their marriage; defence argued the prosecution had not excluded the possibility that the injuries were self-inflicted.

Reports the closing speeches by prosecution (Shane Costelloe SC) and defence (Seamus Clarke SC) at the Central Criminal Court trial, with the judge's charge to the jury scheduled for the following day.

Prosecution and defence closing speeches at the Central Criminal Court trial; prosecution described Gehlen's actions as 'the ultimate in toxic masculinity'; defence called it 'a tragic case' and asked for acquittal; Mr Justice MacGrath to complete jury charge the next day.

Trial testimony from Garda Alma McGovern detailing Gehlen's account of the incident, and from Detective Sergeant Ken Hoare on the arrest. Pathologist evidence on the wounds also referenced.

Trial testimony from Gda Alma McGovern and Det Sgt Ken Hoare describing Gehlen's account of the incident, plus forensic evidence of a Stanley blade and red knife found at the apartment.

Trial evidence from Garda Alma McGovern on Gehlen's account of the stabbing, Det Sgt Ken Hoare on the hospital stay and arrest, and Garda Karen McCarthy and Aileen Donnelly on items found at the scene (Stanley blade, red knife, yellow-handled knife in Gehlen's chest).

Reports pathologist's expert evidence on the injuries, prosecution digital evidence from two laptops (searches, Facebook Messenger visits, Google Translate messages, spy software), phone messages between Colomines and a French man, Gehlen's phone call to friend Ralph Comendador, and scene details from Detective Sergeant Ken Hoare including a knife falling from Gehlen's chest and a bloodstained bath.

Reports on prosecution evidence at the Central Criminal Court trial, including Facebook messages between Gehlen and Colomines, 296 text messages between Colomines and her French boyfriend on the night of her death, CCTV of their arrivals home, and threatening messages Gehlen sent to the boyfriend.

Trial evidence from three Dublin Fire Brigade officers describing the scene, CCTV footage of the couple's arrival, and testimony from friend Katarina Kristova about Colomines' new relationship with a French man and her plans to bring him to Ireland.

Trial testimony from work colleagues and friends describing Colomines' deteriorating relationship with Gehlen, her desire to divorce, her new relationship with a man met in France, and Gehlen's threatening message to that boyfriend on the day of her death.

Trial testimony from four witnesses (Saide Lambattane, Melissa Courgeat, Geraldine Mitane, James Plasic) describing Colomines' new relationship, her desire for divorce, Gehlen's message to the boyfriend, and Gehlen's work at Sodexo before he stopped attending in October 2017.

Witness Ralph Comendador testifies at the Central Criminal Court trial about Gehlen's statements on the night of the murder, the couple's marital breakdown, and events in the days leading up to the killing.

Friend Ralph Comendadore gave evidence about Facebook messages and a phone call from Gehlen on the day of the murder, in which Gehlen said 'Sorry, I killed Anne, and now I'm going to kill myself.' The trial continues.

Trial opening details: DPP's opening statement, Gehlen's account to gardaí, the friend's testimony, pathologist's findings on wounds, and background on the marriage difficulties.

Trial opened at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The prosecution presented evidence of Gehlen's statement to a friend at 23.12, his account to gardai that his wife stabbed herself, the pathologist's findings of four significant torso wounds, and evidence of marital difficulties and a desire for divorce in the weeks before the killing.

Covers the opening of the trial, including the DPP's opening statement detailing the evidence: Gehlen's statement to gardaí, testimony from a friend about his distress and Facebook messages, the scene where gardaí and fire brigade found both bodies, and the pathologist's findings of four significant torso wounds one of which penetrated the pericardium.