Case No. 1759Murder, impeding the prosecution · Co. Dublin · 9 Dec 2022
Murder trial: accused tell jury they defended themselves after Ilyas threatened them with a crowbar
Mahamud Ilyas, a 22-year-old man, was allegedly beaten to death on 9 December 2022 at a house in the Verdemont estate, Blanchardstown, Dublin, after a row over a stolen bag of cannabis. Viorel Doroscan, 23, and Otniel Richardo Clejan, 24, both men, have pleaded not guilty to his murder, while Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, a man, faces charges of impeding the prosecution. The State pathologist said Ilyas died from blunt force trauma to the head, with depressed fractures typical of hammer blows. At the Central Criminal Court in April 2025, the jury viewed a Snapchat video allegedly showing Ilyas bloodied on the ground, and the accused told the court they defended themselves after Ilyas threatened them with a crowbar.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court28 Apr
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Mahamud Ilyas, 22, was allegedly beaten to death after a row over a stolen bag of cannabis.
- Where
- The incident took place at a house at Verdemont, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, which was being used to store cannabis on 8 December 2022.
- When
- Ilyas went into the house at about 2.41pm on 9 December 2022, and a Snapchat video was taken at 2.51pm that afternoon.
- Cause
- The State pathologist said Ilyas died from blunt force trauma to the head, with depressed fractures typical of hammer blows.
- Weapon
- Witness Vlady Ndosimau saw Doroscan holding a fruit knife and Clejan holding a hammer near Ilyas's head.
- Investigation
- A Snapchat video from Doroscan's account showed a man lying face up with visible blood on his face and a large blood stain on the wall behind him.
- Charges
- Doroscan and Clejan pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ilyas, and Cantaragiu faces charges of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of the two men.
- In court
- The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men at the Central Criminal Court.
- Other details
- Doroscan told gardaí that Ilyas came running into the apartment with a crowbar and threatened to kill them, and Clejan said he defended himself by once striking and pushing Ilyas away.
- Doroscan said they put Ilyas in a car and drove to a field beside Hollystown where they left him, and Cantaragiu told gardaí he last saw Ilyas headfirst in a ditch, breathing and gasping.
42 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe video showed a man lying face up with visible blood on his face and a large blood stain on the wall behind him. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe force was applied from a blunt object such as a hammer, blows, and kicks. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA house at Verdemont in Blanchardstown was being used to store cannabis on 8 December 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWitness Vlady Ndosimau saw Ilyas sitting on the floor with blood from his nose, hands and feet tied with a rope or zip tie. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe video showed a man lying on the ground face up with visible blood on his face and a large blood stain on the wall behind him. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe shoe of the video-taker can be seen briefly in the clip. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe prosecution intended to show that Doroscan and Clejan were involved in the sale and supply of drugs. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn December 8, 2022, a house at Verdemont in Blanchardstown was being used to store cannabis. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIlyas was seen leaving the house carrying a shopping bag containing cannabis. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWitness Vlady Ndosimau saw Ilyas sitting on the floor with blood from his nose, his hands and feet tied with a rope or zip tie. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDoroscan kept shouting 'where is the stuff' while Ilyas was groaning. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Ilyas was seen leaving the house carrying a shopping bag containing cannabis. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWitness Vlady Ndosimau saw Mr Ilyas sitting on the floor with blood from his nose, hands and feet tied, while Doroscan held a fruit knife and Clejan held a hammer. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Doroscan kept shouting 'where is the stuff' while Mr Ilyas was groaning. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Doroscan said they put Mr Ilyas in a car and drove to a field beside Hollystown where they left him. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Cantaragiu told gardaí he last saw Mr Ilyas headfirst in a ditch, breathing and gasping, and that he was shivering like chattering teeth in the car. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereViorel Doroscan, 23, is of Bay Meadows Square, Hollystown, West Dublin. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereOtniel Richardo Clejan, 24, has a former address at Verdemont in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereMr Doroscan is of Bay Meadows Square, Hollystown, West Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMr Clejan has a former address at Verdemont in Blanchardstown in Dublin 15. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereOn December 8, 2022, a house at Verdemont in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 was being used to store cannabis. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMetadata confirmed the clip was taken at 2.51pm on 9 December 2022 in the area of the Verdemont estate in Blanchardstown. (irishtimes.com)
- whenIlyas went into the house at Verdemont at about 2.41pm on 9 December 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMetadata provided by Snapchat said the clip was taken at 2:51pm on December 9, 2022 in the area of the Verdemont estate in Blanchardstown. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenIlyas went into the house at Verdemont at about 2:41pm on December 9, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe accused pleaded not guilty to the murder on December 9, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMr Ilyas went into the house at Verdemont at about 2.41pm the following afternoon. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeIlyas was allegedly beaten to death after a row over a stolen bag of cannabis. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- causeAssistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe application of force to the head was from a blunt object such as a hammer, blows, and kicks. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMr Ilyas died from blunt force trauma to the head. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe pathologist said the depressed fractures to his head were typical of hammer blows. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponDoroscan held a fruit knife while Clejan stood close to Ilyas's head with a hammer in his hand. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoth men pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mahamud Ilyas on 9 December 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBoth men pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mahamud Ilyas on December 9, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeLorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, of Castlegrange Park, Blanchardstown, faces charges of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Clejan and Doroscan. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMr Cantaragiu faces charges of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Clejan and Doroscan. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury viewed a Snapchat video allegedly showing the victim lying bloodied on the ground. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtTrial judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt briefed the jury before they watched the video. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Clejan told gardaí he defended himself by once striking and pushing Mr Ilyas away and did not stand over him with a hammer. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Apr2025Murder accused told gardaí that man beaten to death had threatened to kill them
Trial day report: jury hears gardaí interview transcripts from all three accused, pathologist evidence on cause of death, and witness Vlady Ndosimau's account of finding Ilyas tied up and beaten. Trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
victim, Mahamud Ilyas, 22, male, non-irish (judged from name)Mahamud Ilyasaccused, Viorel Doroscan, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Viorel Doroscanaccused, Otniel Richardo Clejan, 24, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Otniel Richardo Clejanaccused, Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lorenzo Cantaragiu - 28 Apr2025Murder jury view Snapchat video allegedly showing victim bloodied on the ground
New evidence presented: Snapchat video from Doroscan's account showing the victim bloodied on the ground, pathologist's findings on cause of death (blunt force trauma from hammer/blows/kicks), witness testimony that Doroscan said 'we hit Mo with a hammer', and the prosecution's case that the killing followed a dispute over a stolen bag of cannabis stored at a Verdemont house.
victim, Mahamud Ilyas, male, non-irish (judged from name)Mahamud Ilyasaccused, Viorel Doroscan, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Viorel Doroscanaccused, Otniel Richardo Clejan, 24, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Otniel Richardo Clejanaccused, Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lorenzo Cantaragiu - 28 Apr2025Jury in the trial of two men accused of murder shown Snapchat video alleged to show bloodied victim
Adds details of the Snapchat video shown to the jury, the pathologist's findings on cause of death, witness testimony about the beating at the Verdemont house, the prosecution's case on the stolen cannabis, and the co-accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu's impeding prosecution charges.
victim, Mahamud Ilyas, male, non-irish (judged from name)Mahamud Ilyasaccused, Viorel Doroscan, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Viorel Doroscanaccused, Otniel Richardo Clejan, 24, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Otniel Richardo Clejanaccused, Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lorenzo Cantaragiu