Case No. 1643Murder · Co. Dublin · 9 Dec 2022
Two men convicted of murdering Mahamud Ilyas after row over stolen bag of cannabis
Twenty-two-year-old man Mahamud Ilyas was beaten to death and dumped in a wooded area in County Meath on December 9, 2022, following a row over a stolen bag of cannabis. men Viorel Doroscan, 23, and Otniel Richardo Clejan, 24, both pleaded not guilty to the murder, and a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict against them on May 20, 2025, after seven hours and 52 minutes of deliberation over four days. The jury rejected the defence case that the two men had acted in self-defence after Ilyas came running into an apartment with a weapon. Deliberations continue on co-accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, a man who has pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Doroscan and Clejan.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted20 May
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two men were found guilty of the murder of 22-year-old Mahamud Ilyas, who was beaten to death and dumped in a wooded area in County Meath.
- When
- The murder took place on December 9, 2022.
- Where
- Doroscan is of Hollystown, West Dublin, and Clejan has a former address in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
- Cause
- The killing followed a row over a stolen bag of cannabis, and Ilyas died from blunt force trauma to the head.
- Weapon
- A witness said Doroscan held a fruit knife and Clejan held a hammer while Ilyas sat on the floor with blood and his hands and feet tied.
- Investigation
- Cantaragiu allegedly drove the two murder accused and the deceased to Belgree Lane and cleaned the car in which they travelled.
- Charges
- Doroscan and Clejan were charged with murder, and Cantaragiu faces charges of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of the two men.
- In court
- A jury of seven men and five women deliberated for seven hours and 52 minutes over four days before returning a unanimous guilty verdict against Doroscan and Clejan on May 20, 2025.
- The jury will continue deliberations on co-accused Cantaragiu, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
- Other details
- The defence case was that Doroscan and Clejan acted in self-defence after Ilyas came running into an apartment with a weapon.
- Cantaragiu told gardaí that Doroscan and Clejan had threatened to kill him and he saw no way to escape.
17 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men were found guilty of the murder of 22-year-old Mahamud Ilyas. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIlyas was beaten to death and dumped in a wooded area in County Meath. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCantaragiu allegedly drove the two murder accused and the deceased to Belgree Lane and cleaned the car in which they travelled. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe prosecution contended Doroscan and Clejan were involved in the sale and supply of drugs. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWitness Vlady Ndosimau witnessed 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. (irishtimes.com)
- whereDoroscan is of Bay Meadows Square, Hollystown, West Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereClejan has a former address at Verdemont in Blanchardstown in Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe murder followed a row over a stolen bag of cannabis. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe 22-year-old died from blunt force trauma to the head. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCantaragiu faces charges of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Clejan and Doroscan. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury of seven men and five women deliberated for seven hours and 52 minutes over four days. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury returned a unanimous verdict against Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24). (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury will continue deliberations in relation to co-accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21) on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCantaragiu has pleaded not guilty to all charges. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBoth pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ilyas on December 9, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence case was that the two men acted in self-defence after Ilyas came running into an apartment with a weapon. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCantaragiu told gardaí that Doroscan and Clejan had threatened to kill him and he saw no way to escape. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 20 May2025Two men convicted of murdering Mahamud Ilyas after row over stolen bag of cannabis
Jury returned unanimous guilty verdict after 7 hours 52 minutes of deliberation over four days; co-accused Cantaragiu's deliberations continue on Friday.
victim, Mahamud Ilyas, 22, male, non-irish (judged from name)Mahamud Ilyasconvicted, Viorel Doroscan, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Viorel Doroscanconvicted, 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