Judgment reserved in murder conviction appeal

A convicted murder who claimed he accidentally shot the man he blamed for his brother’s suicide and poisoning of his father’s dogs has moved to appeal his conviction.

Michael Collins, aged 34, of Upper Kilmona, Grenagh, Co Cork, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Packie Hogan, aged 42, at Glen Rd, Ballinaraha, Blarney, Co Cork, on February 10, 2011.

Collins also denied possession of a rifle and possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life on the same occasion.

A Central Criminal Court jury sitting in Cork found Collins guilty on all counts and he was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on November 29, 2012.

Collins moved to appeal his conviction yesterday on grounds that the trial judge’s directions to the jury on manslaughter were defective. Michael Bowman, defending, said his client had maintained at all times that he had not intended to kill Hogan but to scare him.

Timothy O’Leary, prosecuting, said there was ample evidence on which Collins could have been convicted of murder.

Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan said the court would reserve judgement.