Man (24) pleads guilty to Dublin axe murder of vulnerable pensioner Kwok Ping Cheng

Oliver Doran, with an address at Sophia Housing, Cork Street, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Kwok Ping Cheng (76) at Robinson’s Court, Cork Street, on a date between April 28 and 29, 2021.

However, at the Central Criminal Court this afternoon, on what was the third day of his murder trial, counsel for Doran told Mr Justice David Keane the accused wished to enter a plea of guilty.

Michael Bowman SC, for the defence, confirmed to the court that, following numerous discussions with his legal team, Doran wished to enter a guilty plea to the charge of murder.

He said the 24-year-old wished to apologise to Mr Cheng’s family for what had transpired and asked for forgiveness from them.

Doran was taking this step in the hope of giving them some closure, Mr Bowman said.

The defendant provided his lawyers with a letter yesterday and had asked that this be given to Mr Cheng’s family, counsel added.

Mr Bowman said he had consulted with Doran in relation to the plea which has been entered and said the defendant was “very firm” in relation to the alternative course he wished to take.

Doran was rearraigned on the charge of murder and pleaded guilty in front of the jury that had been sworn in to hear his trial.

Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, for the DPP, said the plea was accepted by the State.

Discharging the jury, Mr Justice Keane thanked them for their service in the case and exempted the panel from jury duty for a period of five years.

Mr Bowman said the defendant had taken “a very unusual step” in a situation where he was very conscious of the pain and suffering he had visited on the victim’s family and said a probation report may be appropriate in this case under circumstances where drink and drugs had been consumed.

Mr Justice Keane directed that a probation report and victim impact statements be prepared and remanded Doran in custody to April 19 for sentencing.

During the trial, the court heard Mr Cheng was originally from China but had lived in Ireland for some time and had family here. He was known to friends as Chinese George and lived in sheltered accommodation at Robinson’s Court

The jury of nine women and three men was told Mr Cheng died as a result of “multiple traumatic injuries” including a fractured skull and arm, chop wounds, bruises and lacerations.

In her opening address to the jury, Ms Lawlor said Doran was interviewed by gardaí following the pensioner’s death and told investigating officers he killed Mr Cheng with the axe he had brought from his own home.

She said he had indicated that he didn’t remember a lot of what occurred because he had taken an intoxicant.

Doran accepted he caused the death of Mr Cheng with an axe he took from his own home, that he fled the next day and that he initially went to Northern Ireland and then to England, counsel added.

Witness James Ellis told how he found the pensioner’s body “covered in blood” in his sheltered accommodation on the morning of April 29, 2021, at around 10am.

He told Ms Lawlor that he called out to Mr Cheng after he saw his body but “I knew he was dead”.

“As I backed out, I could see the place was ransacked. I said a quick prayer and called the emergency services,” he added.

Evidence was also heard from state pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers who said Mr Cheng suffered multiple broken bones and wounds that exposed his skull and underlying bones. She said the most severe injuries were the scalp lacerations and these were most likely caused by an axe which had been shown to her at the scene.

Outlining her findings from the post mortem, Dr Okkers told Ms Lawlor that Mr Cheng had multiple traumatic injuries including chop wounds, incise wounds, lacerations, bruises and abrasions. She said a chop wound is usually inflicted by a heavier weapon like an axe or a machete.

She said Mr Cheng’s cause of death was hypovolemic shock as a result of blood loss due to multiple injuries.

On Monday, Detective Garda Aidan Smylie told Ms Lawlor that CCTV showed the movements of Mr Cheng and the defendant on the April 28 and 29, 2021. It shows the pensioner returning to his home at 6.42pm. He does not emerge again.

The footage shows Doran exiting Sophia Housing at 9.45pm and entering Robinson's Court a short time later, he said. Doran appeared to have something under his jacket.

Doran entered Mr Cheng’s home and spent one hour and 13 minutes in the flat before leaving via the front door.

The detective said Doran appeared to drop “an axe-like tool” on the ground and when he attempted to retrieve it, he fell over. He said Doran put the tool back inside his jacket and walked away unsteadily.

He again entered Mr Cheng’s home through the rear window shortly after 1am and spent seven minutes in the flat before exiting and returning to Sophia Housing, Det Gda Smylie said.