Man wielded hammer in threat to kill friend
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man who headbutted a former schoolfriend and threatened to kill him with a hammer has received a suspended jail sentence.
Alex Masuku, aged 34, formerly of Saleen, Castlebar, but now residing at Sarsfield Street, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, previously pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and production of an article.
The court was told that Gardaí responded to a report of an incident at an address at The Fairways in Castlebar at 1pm on November 21, 2023.
Musuka had arrived at the home of a former schoolfriend armed with a hammer. He forced his way inside the property and headbutted the injured party. He also threatened the victim with a hammer as he [the victim] held his two-year old daughter in his arms. Masuku was later arrested and the hammer recovered from his car.
State prosecutor Pat Reynolds said the defendant believed his now ex-girlfriend had been having an affair with the injured party. This was denied by his ex-girlfriend and the court heard Masuku may have had certain "delusions".
There was also reference to a compromising video of Masuku. He claimed the injured party taunted him about this video. However, the victim had never seen this video and there was no evidence that it existed.
Masuku has no previous convictions.
The victim, in a statement to the court, said he felt his freedom had been taken away from him and grew paranoid after the incident.
The injured party said he was punched, elbowed, and headbutted and his child witnessed the entire ordeal. He said his daughter cried in her sleep for a week and the incident made him question if he could protect his child.
“The one question I have is why did he do what he did?” the victim asked.
The court heard the defendant has lived in Ireland for 22 years having moved from South Africa as a boy. He and the victim went to secondary school together and also worked together for a period.
Judge Eoin Garavan said there an “appalling level of violence” involved. He expressed concern that Masuku may have been going through a "mini breakdown" at the time and noted the defendant’s sleep issues around the time of the offence. The case was adjourned until last week for finalisation.
Judge Garavan said the reasons behind the assault remained unclear. He said the “pre-mediated” attack had a significant impact on the injured party.
The judge imposed a two-year suspended prison sentence and also instructed Masuku to pay €3,000 in compensation to his victim within six months.
