Ireland Case No. 3702Murder · Co. Dublin · 28 Oct 2024
Tomas Cypas murder trial: forensic evidence of blood on runner and head injury comparison heard
Tomas Cypas, 35, is on trial for the murder of Juris Kokenbergs, 49, at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin, on 28 October 2024. The jury heard forensic evidence of blood-staining matching the deceased on Cypas's runner, a head-injury comparison, and garda testimony that Cypas said he fought with Kokenbergs after the deceased threatened to rape Cypas's mother.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court26 Feb
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports28 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe accused has pleaded not guilty to murdering Juris Kokenbergs at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKokenbergs sustained a serious injury sometime during the day of October 26th. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKokenbergs expired and finally died over the following number of hours after the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKokenbergs occupied a couch adjacent to the kitchen area for the following day, October 27th. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCypas told the dispatcher he and his friend had had a fight two days beforehand. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCypas described the victim as cold to the touch and not breathing. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCypas told the garda he punched Kokenbergs in the head nine or ten times. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCypas told the garda he got up to check on his friend that morning and found him on the floor. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe jurors were told Kokenbergs died after his head was stomped on. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused admits hitting the deceased. (irishtimes.com)
- whereCypas said he was in his mother's house when he found the victim. (irishtimes.com)
- whereCypas has an address at Foxborough Road, Lucan, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe prosecution noted the date of October 28th, 2024 could be a matter of confusion in the case. (irishtimes.com)
- whenCypas made a 999 call to Dublin Fire Brigade at 8:02am on 28 October 2024 that lasted eight minutes. (irishtimes.com)
- whenCypas called 999 to request an ambulance for Kokenbergs, saying he had a fight with him two days beforehand and he was no longer breathing and cold to the touch. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe blood-staining on the toe area of the runner was approximately 2cm in length. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe blood-staining on the middle sole area and inside the insole beside the studs was 0.2cm in length. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe third area was a faint line of red staining inside the midsole measuring 0.4cm. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationIt was a thousand million times more likely the blood on the runner originated from the deceased than an unknown person. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA mixed DNA profile was obtained from blood-staining on the sole of the accused's socks, with the main male profile matching the deceased. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationBlood-staining on the carpet, wall, and under the radiator at Old Bridge Park matched Kokenbergs's DNA. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSome element of cleaning had been done at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCypas pleaded not guilty to murdering Juris Kokenbergs at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin, on 28 October 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeTomas Cypas, 35, pleaded not guilty to murdering Juris Kokenbergs, 49, at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin on 28 October 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Judge Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court with a jury of eight men and four women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Judge Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCypas told the dispatcher the victim was 52 years old and a Latvian national. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDefence counsel Brendan Grehan told the jury that Cypas admitted hitting the deceased. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Feb2026Murder accused told garda his friend had threatened to rape his mother, court hears
Reports on forensic evidence heard at trial including DNA on the accused's runner and socks, head-injury comparison to footwear, scene cleaning, and garda testimony about the alleged fight and the accused's account of punching the deceased nine or ten times.
accused, Tomas Cypas, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Tomas Cypasvictim, Juris Kokenbergs, 49, male, non-irish (judged from name)Juris Kokenbergs - 26 Feb2026Murder accused told 999 his friend was cold to the touch
Trial day coverage: jury hears 999 call recording, prosecution evidence on cause of death (head stomped on), and defence admission that Cypas hit the deceased.
victim, Juris Kokenbergs, 49, male, Latvian, non-irishJuris Kokenbergsaccused, Tomas Cypas, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Tomas Cypas - 26 Feb2026Murder trial jury to hear evidence that 49-year-old man died after head stomped on
Opening addresses at the Central Criminal Court murder trial; prosecution alleges death from stomping on the head; defence admits hitting but contests intent; trial continues before Judge Paul McDermott.
victim, Juris Kokenbergs, 49, male, non-irish (judged from name)Juris Kokenbergsaccused, Tomas Cypas, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Tomas Cypas