Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3682Murder · Co. Dublin · 28 Oct 2024

Pathologist testifies punching alone could have caused brain damage in Lucan murder trial

Tomas Cypas, 35, is on trial for the murder of his friend Juris Kokenbergs, 49, at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin, in October 2024. The State Pathologist told the court that punching alone could have caused the extensive brain damage found at postmortem, and that even immediate medical attention might not have saved the deceased.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court2 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCypas told gardaí he hit the deceased seven or eight times. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKokenbergs was placed on a couch in the kitchen and was asleep on the couch the next day with his body position changing a number of times. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe deceased had extensive bruising over his lip, eyes, nose, cheeks, forehead and upper chest. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe skull was intact and there were no fractures. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe right side of the brain was swollen and there was a clot inside the tissue of the brain. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNo alcohol was detected in blood samples as it would have metabolised over the following day. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe pathologist agreed that punching alone could cause the brain damage without foot patterns contributing at all. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatEven if the deceased had got immediate medical attention it might not have been possible to save him. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeDeath occurred because of complications associated with blunt-force traumatic head injuries including bronchopneumonia, subdural and intracerebral haemorrhage and axonal damage. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe State Pathologist conducted a postmortem on Kokenbergs on October 29, 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCypas pleaded not guilty to murdering Kokenbergs at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin, on October 28, 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is before Judge Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Mar2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Punching alone could have caused extensive damage to deceased man’s brain, trial hears

    State Pathologist Heidi Okkers testified that punching alone could have caused the extensive brain damage without foot patterns contributing, that the skull was intact with no fractures, and that even immediate medical attention might not have saved the deceased. Three areas of blood-staining with the deceased's DNA were found on the accused's runner. The trial continues before Judge Paul McDermott.

    accused, Tomas Cypas, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Tomas Cypasvictim, Juris Kokenbergs, 49, male, non-irish (judged from name)Juris Kokenbergs