A barber has lost his appeal against his conviciton for the murder of his partner whom he stabbed in front of their 21-month-old son.
Hadim Kedik (34), a Turkish national with an address at Connolly Street, Clonakilty, Co Cork, was found guilty in February 2008 of murdering Rose Patterson, his partner and a mother of three. He was jailed for life.
The trial heard Kedik stabbed Ms Patterson eight times between April 11th and 12th 2007, leaving her to bleed to death in front of their son while he cut his own throat and wrists.
Today, the three judge Court of Criminal Appeal, with Mr Justice Nial Fennelly presiding and sitting with Mr Justice Declan Budd and Mr Justice John MacMenamin, dismissed Kedik’s appeal against conviction.
Blaise O’Carroll SC, for Kedik, had argued the evidence rendered the verdict of guilty of murder perverse as Kedik had told gardai in interviews he never intended to kill or cause serious harm to Ms Patterson.
Counsel argued the translation of letters found at the scene and written in Turkish by Kedik had confused the jury.
One line was translated as “I will only kill Rose and then myself” when the correct translation was: “I have only killed Rose”.
Kedik had also stated he would spare their son because he was a clever boy.
Opposing the appeal, John O’Kelly, for the DPP, said this was an exceptionally strong case, Ms Patterson was stabbed eight times and there was nothing perverse in the jury’s verdict.
Mr Justice Nial Fennelly said the court was satisfied the jury was entitled to convict Kedik of murder based on the evidence before it. The court also ruled the proper translation of what was written by Kedik was a matter for the jury.
The court also agreed the case against Kedik was strong and noted a number of Ms Patterson’s stab wounds were very deep.
Rose Patterson, who had two daughters from a previous relationship, had moved in with Kedik in 2004. Their son was born in July 2005 and the relationship went sour after that, the trial heard.
Kedik moved into the apartment above the barbershop and eventually got a court order to gain twice weekly access to his son. On April 11th, just after 1.30pm, Ms Patterson had dropped the boy off for his visit. Her body was discovered in the appartment alongside the injured Kedik and their son the following morning.