CCA to explain overturning of murder conviction

The Court of Criminal Appeal will today outline its reasons for overturning the murder conviction of two Dublin brothers.

Earlier this month, the three judge court set aside the convictions of Warren and Jeffrey Dumbrell for the murder of Christopher Cawley in the stairwell of a Dublin flat complex.

Mr Cawley, aged 36 and the father of six children, was stabbed to death at Tyrone Place in Inchicore on October 29, 2006.

In June 2008, Warren Dumbrell and his younger brother Jeffrey from Emmet Place in Inchicore were jailed for life after being found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of his murder.

However, a university lecture given by the trial judge Mr Justice Paul Carney during their trial led the Dumbrell Brothers to appeal their conviction for murder.

Their counsel argued that references to fatal stabbings in the speech, and the publicity that the judge's comments was given, meant there was a real risk or liklihood that the jury was prejudiced.

Earlier this month, the appeal court accepted the argument, and set aside the Dumbrell brother's murder conviction.

Today the Court of Criminal Appeal will give a detailed explanation of that decision.