Case No. 1903Murder · Co. Cork · 14 Jul 2023
Regin Rajan found guilty of murdering wife Deepa Dinamani in Cork
Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani, a 38-year-old Indian chartered accountant, was found dead with a 14cm wound to her neck at the couple's home in Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork, on 14 July 2023. Her husband, Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, an Indian man, was charged with her murder and denied the charge. The couple had moved from India to Ireland around four months earlier so Deepa could take up a senior manager role in a finance company in Cork. Rajan was found guilty of murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork on 8 April 2025 after just over five hours' deliberation. He was remanded in custody for sentencing on 2 May 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court24 Mar
9 reports - Convicted8 Apr
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani, a 38-year-old Indian chartered accountant and mother of one, was found dead in a blood-stained bedroom at the couple's home.
- She sustained a 14cm incised wound to the front of her neck that severed the large strap muscle, the thyroid artery, and exposed the windpipe, and she died of massive blood loss complicated by inhalation of blood.
- Rajan called 999 at around 9.55pm on 14 July 2023 and told the operator he had killed his wife and that police should come and arrest him.
- Rajan told a witness in their local language that he had killed his wife and stabbed her with a knife, and told a Garda at the scene he stabbed her because she was cheating.
- The couple had moved from India to Ireland around four months before the killing so Deepa could take up employment as a senior manager in a finance company in Cork, and the marriage had cooled with the couple sleeping in separate bedrooms.
- Where
- The murder took place at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork.
- When
- The murder took place on the evening of 14 July 2023.
- Weapon
- A Go Cook carving knife was recovered from the scene with blood and tissue on the blade and Rajan's palm print on it; CCTV showed him buying it at Tesco Wilton on 12 July 2023.
- Charges
- Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, of Kerala in India, was charged with the murder of his wife Deepa Dinamani and denied the charge.
- In court
- The trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury of seven women and five men, with Brian McInerney SC acting for the defence.
- The jury found Rajan guilty of murder on 8 April 2025 after just over five hours' deliberation.
- Sentence
- Ms Justice Lankford remanded Rajan in custody for sentencing on 2 May 2025.
- Other details
- A handwritten note asking for forgiveness was found in the bedroom, and a wedding ring was found near it.
- The couple had a five-year-old son and had married in 2015.
153 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim was a mother of one from India (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim had been in Ireland just three months at the time of her death (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was found dead in a blood stained bedroom (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim sustained a 14 cm wound to the front of her neck (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was considering divorce (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim was a 38-year-old chartered accountant (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe couple had a son in 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim started working in a finance company in Cork in spring 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne room in the property was sublet to a nurse at the nearby hospital (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused told the man he had killed his wife and stabbed her with a knife (irishtimes.com)
- whatA palm print of the accused was on a blood stained knife recovered at the scene (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe knife had been purchased by the accused two days prior to the murder (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was found dead in a heavily blood-stained bedroom of her Cork home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim sustained a 14cm incised wound to the front of her neck. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe main strap muscle of the neck was severed. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA blood-stained knife was recovered from the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe witness called 999 and emergency services arrived at the scene soon afterwards. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe witness worked at the same company in Cork as the accused. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRegin Parithapara Rajan is charged with the murder of his wife Deepa Dinamani. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRajan told Murali in their local language that he had killed his wife and she was on the first floor. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRajan had told Murali that he and Deepa were quarrelling and that she was looking for a divorce. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRajan claimed his wife was scolding him for simple things and looking for a divorce. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRajan sent Murali a screenshot from Deepa's phone stating her status was separated but not divorced. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSreeja Sumanagala was with her husband at Cardinal Court when Rajan confessed to killing his wife. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSreeja asked Rajan why he did it and he replied that Deepa was not good. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA handwritten note asking for forgiveness was found in a bedroom of the home in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRegin Parithapara Rajan, 43, of Kerala in India, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork charged with the murder of his wife Deepa Dinamani and denies the charge. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDeepa Dinamani was a 38-year-old chartered accountant. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe couple had moved to Ireland from India with their young son four months before the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe note was described as difficult to read. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCCTV from Tesco in Wilton Shopping Centre showed Rajan buying a Go Cook carving knife, a bottle of whiskey and a soft drink. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan brought a bag for life and used a Tesco club card when purchasing the items. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe caller identified himself as Regin Rajan and gave an Eircode for a property in Cardinal Court in Wilton. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe caller said he wanted the guards to come and arrest him as he had killed his wife. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe caller stated his five-year-old son was at home. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan told a Garda at the scene that Deepa was cheating on him and having an affair with a man who lives in London. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRajan said he stabbed Deepa in the throat with a knife because he could not tolerate her cheating. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRajan said he would take any sentence and acknowledged he committed a crime. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRajan said he was in depression and had lost 15kg in the last two months. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDeepa died of a 14cm single-swipe incised knife cut to her neck. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe neck wound severed the large strap muscle, the thyroid artery, and exposed the windpipe. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThere was evidence of aspirated blood in Deepa's lungs. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDeepa inhaled and swallowed blood from her wound. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDeepa also had a 6.8cm incised wound on her left forearm and some bruising on her body. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDeepa was found lying on her back in a bed at the family home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThere were significant blood stains on the bed and pillows and a dynamic blood spray in the room. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo blood-stained teddy bears were found in the area where Deepa was located. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNeighbour AJ Raj said Rajan told him his marriage was not a happy one and came to his house crying over the breakdown in his relationship. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMs Dinamani was found dead in a blood-soaked bed in a rental property in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan said his wife was having an affair and the man lives in London. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan said he saw messages on her phone that he found very ugly. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan said he stabbed her with a knife in the throat and would take any sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan said it was the second time and he had been in depression, losing 15kg in two months. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan said he did not do it deliberately, only after seeing the messages. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Mulligan said Ms Dinamani would have lost the ability to speak once the wound was inflicted. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe incised wound measured 14cm in length on the neck. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe wound severed the large strap muscle of the neck, the thyroid artery, and exposed the windpipe. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRegin Parithapara Rajan is on trial in Cork charged with the murder of Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani (irishtimes.com)
- whatRegin, Deepa and their young son moved from India to Ireland four months before she was found dead (irishtimes.com)
- whatDeepa sustained a 14cm wound to her throat and died of massive blood loss (irishtimes.com)
- whatChief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan said once the wound was inflicted Deepa was breathing in and swallowing her own blood (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe wound left Deepa unable to speak a single word (irishtimes.com)
- whatDeepa was a native of Kerala (irishtimes.com)
- whatUllas Dinamani paid for Regin to attend a therapist after the couple moved to Ireland in March 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe couple had got married within a few months of meeting each other (irishtimes.com)
- whatUllas Dinamani said his sister wanted a divorce and Regin said he would not let her go (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe couple had a five-year-old son (irishtimes.com)
- whatDeepa and Regin were sleeping in separate bedrooms (irishtimes.com)
- whatRegin stated in garda interviews that he had been married for eight years and enjoyed being a father (irishtimes.com)
- whatRegin told gardaí he had married for love and got on well with his in-laws (irishtimes.com)
- whatRegin said he was suffering with depression but was not on medication (irishtimes.com)
- whatRegin said he found it hard to be without a job in Ireland and had been actively looking for work (irishtimes.com)
- whatRejani Jose, a nurse at CUH from Kerala in India, was renting a room at the couple's home in Cork (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe witness and Deepa never met in person. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDeepa's Match.com profile described her as separated, not divorced, with interests in reading, yoga and cooking. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThey had two to three voice calls but never exchanged video calls. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe day before Deepa was found dead, searches were made on her phone about how to know if being tracked on WhatsApp. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRegin Rajan was found guilty of murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe jury deliberated for just over five hours. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe murder weapon was a carving knife that caused a 14cm wound from an ear lobe to the mid-point of the neck. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDeepa lost massive amounts of blood, inhaled and swallowed her own blood, and her windpipe was exposed. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan called 999 and told the operator he had killed his wife and that police should come and arrest him. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA handwritten note asking for forgiveness was found on a table in the bedroom, and a wedding ring was found near it. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan bought the carving knife at Tesco on 12 July 2023, along with a bottle of Jameson and a soft drink. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe couple had moved to Ireland four months earlier so Deepa could take up employment as a senior manager in a finance company in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whatProsecution evidence showed Rajan had googled prison conditions in Ireland before the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe couple were effectively separated but living in separate rooms under the same roof. (irishtimes.com)
- whatPrasad Jayarathinam exchanged messages with Deepa for about a month before her murder after getting to know her on Match.com. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan admitted under cross-examination that he failed to call an ambulance for his dying wife. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRajan claimed the knife had been bought to cut rockfish. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe murder took place at Cardinal Court in Wilton (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe victim grew up in Kerala in India (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe couple lived at Cardinal Court in Wilton, Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder occurred at the couple's home in Wilton, Cork, at Cardinal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe body was found at Cardinal Court in Wilton, Cork city. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe murder occurred at Cardinal Court in Wilton, Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe murder occurred at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe couple moved to Ireland four months before Deepa was found dead. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork city. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder took place on 14 July 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe couple married in 2015 (irishtimes.com)
- whenOn 14 July 2023 the couple's young son went to a summer camp. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenAt 7pm the man contacted the nurse subletting a room in the property. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenBoth the accused and the man rang 999 at around 10pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe murder took place on the evening of 14 July 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe body was found on 14 July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe purchase was made on the afternoon of 12 July 2023, two days before the body was found. (irishtimes.com)
- whenAn emergency call was received at the Garda control room in Anglesea Street, Cork, at 9.55pm on 14 July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe family had been living in Cork for around four months when Deepa was found dead. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe post-mortem examination was carried out on 15 July 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred on 14 July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenDr Mulligan carried out the postmortem examination on 15 July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe pathologist's evidence is that she died of blood loss complicated by inhalation of blood caused by the wound. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeDeepa died from massive blood loss after sustaining a 14cm cut to her throat. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponRajan told the witness he had stabbed Dinami with a knife. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponRajan allegedly stabbed Deepa with a knife. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe knife recovered from the scene was a Go Cook steel knife, 132cm in length, with a 20cm blade and 2.5cm width. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponBlood and tissue were found on the blade of the knife recovered from the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMurali called 999 and emergency services arrived at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDet Garda John Paul Twomey visited the house the day after the body was found. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationItems seized from the scene included a knife, a wedding ring, a broken gold necklace, and a bloodied t-shirt and shorts. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationVarious swabs were taken from the body of the deceased. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDet Garda Kenneth Lawton gave the accused a legal caution at the scene on 14 July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationMembers of the Armed Support Unit attended the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused is charged with murder (irishtimes.com)
- chargeRajan denies murdering Deepa Dinami at their home in Wilton in July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury of five men and seven women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of five men and seven women. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBrian McInerney, SC is acting for the defence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury consisted of seven women and five men. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtUllas Dinamani gave evidence via video link at the Central Criminal Court in Cork (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case will resume the following Monday at 2pm in front of the jury and Ms Justice Lankford (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe prosecution case ended and the defence was to open at noon the following day. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Siobhán Lankford remanded Rajan in custody for sentencing on 2 May. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused denies the charge (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim's parents are retired and still live in Kerala (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe couple married in 2015 and had a son in 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was a 38-year-old chartered accountant who grew up in Kerala, India. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim had been in Ireland for only three months at the time of her death. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim started working in a finance company in Cork in the spring of 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe marriage had cooled and the couple were sleeping in separate bedrooms. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherRajan called a man known to him from India to pick up his son, claiming he had a job interview. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe State's case is that no such job interview existed. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man spoke to Rajan in the property and noted a smell of alcohol. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherRajan allegedly told the man he had killed his wife and stabbed her with a knife. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherRajan and Deepa had a five-year-old son. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMurali and Rajan had worked at the same company in Kerala before both moving to Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe couple had travelled from India with their young son so Deepa could take up work in Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDeepa was offered a senior manager position at Alter Domus Funds Service and took up employment in April 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe couple had travelled from India with their young son so that Ms Dinamani could take up work in Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- otherRajan is from Kerala, India. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Apr2025Man who claimed he accidentally cut wife’s throat found guilty of murder
Jury verdict of guilty after just over five hours' deliberation; sentencing set for 2 May 2025. Details of the trial evidence including the pathologist's findings, the handwritten note, CCTV of the knife purchase, and witness testimony from the victim's sibling and online acquaintance.
victim, Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani, 38, female, non-irish (judged from name)Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamaniconvicted, Regin Rajan, 43, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Regin Rajan - 1 Apr2025Murder victim said marrying husband was biggest mistake of her life
Reports prosecution evidence at trial: dating site testimony from Prasad Jayarathinam, intimate WhatsApp messages, and phone search evidence from both Rajan's and Dinamani's phones. Prosecution case closed; defence to open the following day.
victim, Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani, 38, female, Indian, non-irishDeepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamanisuspect, Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, male, Indian, named, non-irishRegin Parithapara Rajan - 28 Mar2025‘My sister wanted a divorce’: Brother of woman who died after throat cut gives evidence in murder trial
Reports testimony from Deepa's brother Ullas Dinamani and nurse Rejani Jose at the ongoing trial, including details about marital problems, the couple's move from India in March 2023, and Regin's statements to gardaí about depression and job-seeking.
victim, Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani, 38, female, Indian, non-irishDeepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamaniaccused, Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, male, Indian, named, non-irishRegin Parithapara Rajan - 27 Mar2025Murder accused told garda he stabbed wife because she was cheating, court hears
Trial evidence from Det Garda Kenneth Lawton describing Rajan's statement at the scene, and postmortem findings from Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan detailing the 14cm incised wound to the neck and the cause of death.
victim, Deepa Dinamani, 38, female, non-irish (judged from name)Deepa Dinamaniaccused, Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Regin Parithapara Rajan - 27 Mar2025Man accused of wife's murder told garda he stabbed her because she 'cheated'
Trial evidence includes Det Garda Lawton's account of Rajan's statement at the scene, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan's post-mortem findings on the 14cm neck wound and aspirated blood, details of the Go Cook knife recovered from the scene, and testimony from Deepa's employer and a neighbour about the couple's relationship difficulties.
victim, Deepa Dinamani, 38, female, non-irish (judged from name)Deepa Dinamaniaccused, Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Regin Parithapara Rajan - 26 Mar2025Deepa Dinamani murder trial: handwritten note in which writer asked for forgiveness found in victim’s home, court hears
Trial evidence presented: handwritten note in a notebook found in the victim's bedroom, CCTV of accused buying a Go Cook carving knife at Tesco Wilton on 12 July 2023, items seized from the scene including a knife and bloodied clothing, and the accused's 9.55pm emergency call to Garda control room in which he said he had killed his wife.
victim, Deepa Dinamani, 38, female, non-irish (judged from name)Deepa Dinamaniaccused, Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Regin Parithapara Rajan - 25 Mar2025Man tells Cork murder trial of 'shock' when friend told him he'd killed his wife
Witness testimony from Mahesh Murali, Sreeja Sumanagala, and relocation agent Karyn Allan given at the ongoing murder trial; Murali described Rajan's confession and prior complaints about the marriage.
victim, Deepa Dinamani, 38, female, non-irish (judged from name)Deepa Dinamaniaccused, Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Regin Parithapara Rajan - 25 Mar2025Witness recalls being ‘shocked and shattered’ when murder accused told him he stabbed wife
Witness Mahesh Murali testified that the accused told him in their local language that he had killed his wife and stabbed her with a knife; the accused denies the charge. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford.
victim, Deepa Dinami, 38, female, non-irish (judged from name)Deepa Dinamiaccused, Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Regin Parithapara Rajan - 24 Mar2025Mum found dead with 14cm stab wound had just moved to Ireland, murder trial told
Trial opened with prosecution outline of evidence; accused denies murder contrary to common law; trial expected to last up to three weeks.
victim, Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani, 38, female, non-irish (judged from name)Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamaniaccused, Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Regin Parithapara Rajan - 24 Mar2025Man (42) goes on trial charged with murder of wife in Cork in 2023
Opening of the murder trial, including the prosecution's opening statement outlining the case, the state of the marriage, and the evidence of a blood-stained knife with the accused's palm print.
victim, Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani, 38, female, non-irish (judged from name)Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamaniaccused, Regin Parithapara Rajan, 43, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Regin Parithapara Rajan