Guilty verdict in Rathfeigh remains case

A 30 year-old Blanchardstown man has been found gulity of the murder of Daniel McAnaspie, whose body was found in Rathfeigh in April 2010, by unanimous jury verdict. Daniel McAnaspie, 17, had been in HSE care in Dublin before his death in 2010.
Dekker had pleaded not guilty to the murder at Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown, on 26 February 2010. Daniel had been out socialising in Blanchardstown on 25th February 2010 and met a number of people, including Richard Dekker, and went drinking. Both of Daniel's parents had died and he was living in Donabate when he was allowed out that afternoon.
Two of his friends tried to persuade him to leave with them at around 4am the following morning but he insisted on staying and that was the last time they saw him alive. He had a mobile phone and was supposed to be picked up later, but his carers were unable to contact him and reported him missing to gardaí.
Two months later his badly decomposed remains were found in a deep drain on a farmer's land in Rathfeigh, near Skryne. He had been stabbed to death. Dekker was arrested and admitted he was with Daniel before he was killed.
Daniel had been persuaded to go to an isolated area along the River Tolka in the early hours of 26th February. Dekker was there when he claimed another man brought half a garden shears with him.
Dekker described in detail to gardaí how that man killed Daniel with the shears. He told them the teen begged for his life and he also pleaded with the man to stop but that he then got scared that he would use the blade on him.
Dekker also showed gardaí where killing happened and he insisted he did not know it was going to take place. Dekker's conviction came after a week-long trial and more than eight hours of deliberation by the jury at the Central Criminal Court.
Prosecuting counsel Brendan Grehan SC said Daniel's family will prepare a statement for the court which will be read out at the sentencing hearing on 3rd April.
Having been convicted of murder, Dekker faces a mandatory life sentence. Trevor Noone, 28, also from Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month for his role in the boy's death. He will also be sentenced in April.