A teenager charged with the murder of a Japanese man in a stabbing in Dundalk could not attend a scheduled court appearance on Thursday because he was receiving ongoing psychiatric treatment.
Mohamed Morei (18), whose nationality has not yet been determined by investigating gardaí, was remanded in custody on January 4th after being charged with the murder of 24-year-old Yosuke Sasaki.
He did not appear at his fourth scheduled hearing on Thursday as he continues to receive ongoing medical care in the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Dundrum. He had also been unfit to attend two previous hearings.
Defence solicitor Barry Callan confirmed to Judge Anthony Halpin that his client’s position “remains the same”.
Two weeks ago the court was handed a letter from a consultant psychiatrist at the CMH, stating that Mr Morei would not be able to attend Cloverhill District Court until mid-February.
Judge Halpin adjourned the case in his absence until February 22nd and further remanded the accused in custody.
Mr Sasaki, from Ebina, west of Tokyo, was fatally stabbed on Avenue Road shortly before 9am on January 3rd.
Following his death, an Irish man was injured when he was stabbed a short time later at a nearby location.