Boy (14) hit in face in phone theft, court told

Mugurel Dosecivc (21) is alleged to have been one of two people who hit the teenager several times in the face while robbing him of his phone in west Dublin.

He is facing a Circuit Court trial after a judge decided the case was too serious to be dealt with at District Court level.

Dosecivc, of Castlegate Drive, Adamstown, Lucan, is charged with one count of robbing the boy of an LG mobile phone worth €150 in an incident in April 2010.

Following the incident, the alleged victim was left with a sore face, a cut over his knee and a cut to his left hand.

The accused was himself 19 years old at the time.

The charge is contrary to Section 14 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

Penalties

Judge Anthony Halpin asked for an outline of the prosecution's case so he could consider whether to accept jurisdiction.

Sgt Mary Doherty told Blanchardstown District Court it would be alleged that the accused and another person stole a mobile phone from the boy "and in doing so, hit him a number of times in the face".

Judge Halpin asked the age of the victim and when told, said he would refuse jurisdiction. This means it will be sent forward for trial by judge and jury to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the potential penalties are more severe.

The judge adjourned the case to June 21, for the preparation of a book of evidence.

aphelan@herald.ie