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A man and a woman have both been found guilty of the murder of a man whose remains were found in the sea at the foot of the Slieve League cliffs in County Donegal in June 2023.
Alan Vial, 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, and Nikita Burns, 23, from An Charraig, County Donegal, both denied the murder of Wilkin, who also went by Robin, on 25 June 2023.
The pair, who were a couple at the time, denied the murder at times blaming each other for taking Wilkin’s life.
Today a jury sitting of five men and seven women deliberated for over eight hours over the past four days before finding both Vial and Burns guilty by a 10-2 majority
As Gript previously reported, counsel for Burns, Eoin Lawlor SC, argued that Ms. Burns was not directly involved in the murder – although she had previously admitted hitting Wilkins in the head with a rock – although she admitted helping Vial to clean the car after the incident.
Vial had claimed there was a fight between him and Wilkin in a car – in which all three were travelling on the night of the murder – between Killybegs and Slieve League after they had been drinking heavily in various pubs.
Vial claimed that the deceased punched him three to four times in the face before he grabbed him by his wrists.
After this, he claimed, Burns had appeared at the passenger side where she struck Wilkin on the back of the head with a rock.
Counsel for Burns argued that Vial was “lying” about this account of events- which Vial denied – and that blood spatter patterns found in the vehicle were not consistent with his account and that his claim that a mirror on the car had been smashed as Burns drew back the rock before striking the victim was not consistent with her being right handed.
Vial’s counsel had argued that his client had wanted to take the blame for the murder on behalf of his “significantly” younger girlfriend. He said that his client was “guilty” of being and “idiot”, but not guilty of murder.
He described Vial as “not a pretty picture” saying that the jury had seen the “warts and all human being that my client is”.
He described him as a “middle aged”, “alcoholic” and “a petty criminal” who had stolen his father’s truck.
Counsel for Burns had similarly argued that she had also tried to take the blame for the murder not wanting Vial to face the rigours of the law.
The court heard that both had problems with alcohol and that Burns had had a “difficult” upbringing.
Both Vial and Burnes will face sentences of mandatory life in prison at a sentencing hearing tomorrow.
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