A man accused of brutally beating a Canadian tourist in Ireland has now seen his charges upped to murder.
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Dublin’s director of prosecutions has decided that Ionut Danca, 24, will face murder charges for his alleged role in the attack on Neno Dolmajian of Montreal on June 23.
The Romanian construction worker is currently out on bail. Following the vicious late-night beatdown, Danca went on the run. He had initially been charged with assault causing bodily harm.
Dolmajian was single and in his 40s. He was taken to the Mater Hospital after the incident but never regained consciousness and died on July 2.
Det. Sgt. Eoghan Byrne said Danco was allegedly with a group of fellow Romanians at Cathal Brugha St. in Dublin when Dolmajian approached and engaged them in conversation.
One member of the group allegedly hit him. There was another encounter with the group later.
The Irish Times reports that some of the group became hostile while others tried to intervene.
Cops say that Dolmajian walked towards the quays but was then allegedly knocked to the ground by a “running kick.” Byrne described it as a full-force blow to the doomed man’s face.
Following the attack, Danca fled Ireland, flying out of Belfast to Edinburgh, Scotland. He then flew on to Naples with a final destination of Bucharest.
Byrne said detectives went to the accused killer’s Dublin address but discovered it had been “cleaned out.” Ten bags of his belongings remained.
“His girlfriend indicated they intended to leave Ireland permanently and have their stuff shipped to Romania,” Byrne said.
Danco had reportedly lived in Ireland for six years and did not have a criminal record. He came back voluntarily following two days of calls, texts and emails to locate him.
Another man, Madalin Ghiuzan, 23, is also before the courts in connection with the assault. His case resumes in January.
Meanwhile, two Canadian men are under arrest following a double stabbing in Salinas, Calif.
According to cops, investigators initially believed the attack was random but then discovered the stabbings were the result of an online obsession among gamers.
Cops say that on Nov. 24 just before 10 p.m., Monterey County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a home north of the city. There, they found three people suffering from stab wounds.
Detectives said that Devin Wolfgang Vandorhoef, 25, believed to be from the Barrie area, and a woman who lives at the home knew each other from their interactions on a gaming platform.
Vandorhoef allegedly developed a years-long obsession with her, cops said.
That alleged obsession culminated in Vandorhoef and a buddy named Darius Avery Whyte, 25, flying from Canada and showing up at the victim’s home. Vandorhoef allegedly posed as an Amazon delivery driver with a package so he could force himself inside.
“The victim’s boyfriend opened the door and the suspect immediately starts stabbing the boyfriend,” Monterey Sheriff’s Cmdr. Andres Rosas alleged.
The terrified woman armed herself with some sort of metal object and used it to attack her would-be suitor. He then allegedly choked and stabbed her, Rosas added.
Vandorhoef suffered stab wounds and was taken to hospital in critical condition along with the boyfriend. They are expected to survive. The woman’s injuries weren’t considered life-threatening.
Police said the “package” Vandorhoef was carrying contained handcuffs, duct tape and knives.
Whyte was found in the neighbourhood but was allowed to leave after telling investigators he was not involved. He was arrested the next day at San Jose’s Mineta International Airport attempting to return to Canada.
“They both knew what the plan was and they both knew what was going on,” Rosas asserted.
Vandorhoef was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, conspiracy, mayhem, stalking and burglary and was being held in custody on more than $4.1-million bail.
Whyte was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and conspiracy — his bail was set at $1 million.
@HunterTOSun