A man convicted of raping, assaulting and coercively controlling a woman over a six-week period has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing his trial was prejudiced by inadmissible evidence. Dean Ward, aged 38, was found guilty in June 2022 of twelve offences committed between June and July 2019 against a woman in Killybegs, County Donegal. He received a sentence of eighteen years, suspended by one year. Ward's counsel submitted that the complainant's references during evidence to previous threats to kill, and prosecution remarks concerning bank transfers, created unfairness that could not be remedied by judicial direction. Counsel also challenged the admission of impact evidence given by the complainant. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel countered that such evidence was admissible and essential to establish the complainant's state of mind and the coercive control element of the offences. Mr Justice John Edwards reserved judgment, with a decision to follow.
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Public source leads
- 'The worst violation': Man jailed for rape and coercive control of his wife - BreakingNews.ie BreakingNews.ie · Mon, 21 Oct 2024 07:00:00 GMT
- Man jailed for 17 years for coercive control, rape and assault of partner - BreakingNews.ie BreakingNews.ie · Thu, 28 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMT
- Man jailed for coercive control and repeated sex assault of wife during Covid lockdown - BreakingNews.ie BreakingNews.ie · Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:00:00 GMT
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