Murder trial: Accused denies 'murder her' comment about Nenagh pensioner
Hasan Ali Gori, 52, is on trial for the murder of 89-year-old Josephine Ray, found dead at her Nenagh home in August 2024. He denies choking her or telling her daughter to kill her.
Accused denies 'murder her' comment in Nenagh pensioner death trial
A man charged with murdering an 89-year-old pensioner denied choking her and denied telling her daughter to "murder her" during his trial at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick on Friday, limerickpost.ie reports.
Hasan Ali Gori, 52, an African native, is accused of killing Josephine "Josie" Ray at her home in Nenagh on 4 August 2024. He denies the charge. Josie Ray was found in her bed, allegedly strangled and smothered, with 44 bruises to her head and body.
Gori had been living at the property with Josie Ray and her daughter Mary, with whom he was in a relationship. The court heard that Mary Ray has an intellectual disability and was described as a "vulnerable" person. Josie Ray had not approved of her daughter's relationship with Gori and had, on several occasions, called him a "black bastard" and had previously struck him with a poker, witnesses told the court.
Neighbours and members of the Ray family testified that the three were constantly "fighting" and "arguing", with their rows frequently described as "volatile". One neighbour told the court that, nine years prior, Mary Ray had threatened to stab her mother with a knife outside their home.
Audio recording at centre of prosecution case
An audio recording found on Gori's mobile phone, seized by gardaí, was played in court. The prosecution, led by senior counsel Lorcan Connolly, alleged the recording — spanning three and a half hours — captured Gori and Mary Ray in an argument. During that exchange, Mary Ray is heard saying "no no, can't say nothing to my mother", to which the prosecution alleged Gori's response was "murder her".
Gori, in a video recording of his garda interview played in court, repeatedly denied making that statement. He told detectives he had said "murder ba", not "murder her". When gardaí asked what "ba" meant, Gori replied there was no such word in English and that it belonged to his native language.
Neighbours and the night before
Neighbours told gardaí they heard Gori and Mary Ray arguing outside Josie Ray's house on the evening before her body was discovered. One neighbour reported overhearing Gori tell Mary Ray: "I don't want to live with your mother, I want to live there just ourselves."
Gori told investigators he had no knowledge of that conversation. A separate neighbour alleged Gori had said he was sick of living with Josie and that either she or he would have to leave the house — a claim Gori also denied recalling.
Gardaí had responded to a report of a disturbance at the property on the night before Josie Ray's body was found, advising Gori and Mary Ray to keep the noise down.
When put to Gori during questioning that he had choked Josie Ray in her bed in the early hours of 4 August 2024, he replied: "Please, Mr Detective, I know nothing, it's a false allegation."
Asked whether Josie Ray had been "afraid" of him, he said: "I don't know, when someone hates you because of the colour of your skin, it's difficult." He clarified he was referring to some of Mary's relatives.
Medical and forensic evidence
State Pathologist Dr Yvonne McCartney, who conducted the post-mortem on Josie Ray's remains, gave evidence that in her opinion the cause of death was "strangulation" and "smothering".
Forensic scientist Dr Stephen Clifford told the court that Gori's DNA was found on swabs taken from Josie Ray's right hand and fingernails. Dr Clifford noted this "may not be significant", as DNA can transfer between individuals sharing accommodation without direct contact.
A social worker who had visited Josie Ray in the months before her death told the court that Josie appeared "nervous" whenever Gori's name was raised, and had expressed that she did not want to return to her house while he was living there.
The trial continues.
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)