{"id":26383,"date":"2023-10-24T07:41:23","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T11:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=26383"},"modified":"2023-10-24T07:41:23","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T11:41:23","slug":"killer-given-two-life-sentences-for-unspeakable-murders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2023\/10\/24\/killer-given-two-life-sentences-for-unspeakable-murders\/","title":{"rendered":"Killer given two life sentences for &#8216;unspeakable&#8217; murders"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ssrcss-1pyuwv1-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"gist-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1racmoo-Gist elaw8341\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"gist-title\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-wdw1q-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p id=\"gist-title\" class=\"ssrcss-gkmfsz-GistIntroduction elaw8340\"><strong>At a glance<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5f7ft-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi0\">\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A sentencing hearing has been taking place for 23-year-old double murderer Yousef Palani<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Palani murdered Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt in Sligo last year<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The hearing was told Palani was driven by a hostility towards homosexuality<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Palani was given two life sentences plus 20 years for injuring a third man<time datetime=\"2023-10-23T14:08:24.665Z\" data-testid=\"timestamp\"><\/time><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A 23-year-old man has been given two life sentences for murdering two men in Sligo last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The court heard that Garda\u00ed (police) believed Yousef Palani&#8217;s motivation &#8220;was to carry out murder due to prejudice against homosexuality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">However, Palani, with an address at Markievicz Heights in Sligo, denied this was the case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He pleaded guilty in July to the murders in Sligo of Aidan Moffitt on 10 April last year and Michael Snee two days later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He further admitted intentionally causing serious harm to Anthony Burke on 9 April. Mr Burke was stabbed in the eye.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In his victim impact statement, Mr Burke called his attacker a \u201ccoward and a monster\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The court heard that one murder victim was decapitated with 43 stab wounds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The second man was stabbed 25 times mainly to his head, neck and chest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Palani told Gardai (police) after his arrest that he suffered with mental health issues, the court heard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He told Garda\u00ed his victims had to be Irish and had to live alone when he sought them out under the pretence of dating.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He met his victims through a variety of social media messaging and gay dating apps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cIt would have to be their own house, and they had to be alone, you can\u2019t be hurting kids or women,\u201d he told arresting officers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Mr Palani denied being in Anthony Burke\u2019s house despite his semen from a previous consensual sexual encounter being found on a blanket there as well as evidence from seized phones that linked him to the victims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Forensic evidence linked blood found on shoes and tracksuit bottoms in Palani\u2019s house to both murder victims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He told arresting officers: \u201cI can get angry very quick\u201d and denied he was gay, claiming homosexuality was \u201ca sin, you wont find many Muslims gay and religious\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He added: \u201cI want to tell you at this time I was mentally ill, I heard voices, they told me to do it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;My mum told me to visit the doctor,\u201d he told Garda\u00ed , adding there was \u201cno specific reason\u201d he killed the two men.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He said \u201cBecause of my religion I don\u2019t hate gay people, it&#8217;s because of the voices.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Police confirmed Palani had no previous convictions and a psychiatric report was not provided to Garda\u00ed or the prosecution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He also told officers he would\u2019ve continued to kill if Gardai hadn\u2019t stopped him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-4qvfmb-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1hq4gmv-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image edrdn950\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/9d45\/live\/aa08d740-71a6-11ee-a503-4588075e3427.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><\/picture><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-1mget3o-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-y7krbn-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Palani murdered Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt (Image: Family Pictures)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In his victim impact statement, Mr Burke, who survived Palani\u2019s attack, said due to the sight loss from being stabbed in the eye, he is limited in his job opportunities as he can no longer hold a HGV license.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He has suicidal thoughts and has gone through \u201ca very dramatic change in my quality of life\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cI have become an introvert and find it hard to be in large groups,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cI spent 49 years suppressing my sexuality, but had no choice when I was attacked due to my sexuality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Mr Burke said the manner in which his sexuality was revealed had a huge impact and strain on his family and friendships.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A victim impact statement from Mr Moffit&#8217;s family heard that he had a \u201csmile and personality that lit up the world\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cFamily was so important to him, he was the best son he could be,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cOur family is lost in grief and forever heartbroken and empty, taken in his prime, we miss Aidan every hour of every day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">One of the victim impact statements for Mr Snee came from Shannon McManus, his niece who found his body.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cMichael was a second dad, a best friend and amazing person,\u201d her statement read.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cMichael was so loving soft and gentle and harmless, he would do anything to make me happy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;The kind of person he was, he wanted the best for us. I am not the same carefree person I was, I never felt the need to look over my shoulder and now I will never be the same.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Since walking in on the scene of finding Michael I have nightmares and flashbacks and imagine the fear he must\u2019ve felt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;I have been prescribed a sleep aid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever be free from this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Both families complained of media intrusion in the wake of their relative&#8217;s murder and requested privacy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Sentencing Palani, Judge Ring said the violence perpetrated on the men was \u201cunspeakable\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cThe right to privacy may end with the deceased, but the right to respect never goes,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cThese three men, who were and are loved and cherished by their families and friends, I know that they were and are complete human beings of which their sexuality was just one part of who they are,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cShame is borne of one person in this courtroom alone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;These three men were proud and that\u2019s how it should be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The judge sentenced Palani to two life sentences for the two murder charges and a 20 year sentence for the attack on Anthony Burke.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">All sentences commenced on 13 April 2022 when he was first taken into custody.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/ce7jpwrp6lzo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">At a glance A sentencing hearing has been taking place for 23-year-old double murderer Yousef Palani Palani murdered Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt in Sligo last year The hearing was told Palani was driven by <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2023\/10\/24\/killer-given-two-life-sentences-for-unspeakable-murders\/\" title=\"Killer given two life sentences for &#8216;unspeakable&#8217; murders\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6],"tags":[1619,5705,9838],"class_list":{"0":"post-26383","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"category-world","9":"tag-homosexuality","10":"tag-republic-of-ireland","11":"tag-sligo","12":"pmpro-has-access"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26383"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26386,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26383\/revisions\/26386"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}