February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
William Monaghan, from County Meath, is charged with the murder on Oct. 26, 2002, of Lionel Violatt, a Swiss citizen. The prosecution charged that Monaghan threw Violatt overboard during a Halloween party cruise in San Francisco Bay. His body was recovered by two weeks later.
Violatt’s girlfriend, Viva Taylor, told the court that she had chatted with Monaghan early in the party. Later she said she met him on deck. Monaghan had asked her about her relationship with Violatt and she told him that they had been together for five years.
On hearing this, Monaghan indicated that as far as he was concerned “that was that.” The court heard that as he was leaving Monaghan asked Taylor for a hug. As the pair were embracing Violatt appeared and ordered Monaghan to “Go! Go! Go!”
Taylor said that at this, Monaghan put up his hands in a motion of “O K” and backed off.
Taylor stated that Violatt had been drinking more than usual that evening and was not used to drinking heavily. She stated that she was upset at Violatt’s behavior, which she thought was out of line, and walked off.
At this point during her testimony, Taylor broke down in tears and on regaining her composure said that she regretted leaving at that stage.
“I don’t like seeing all these lives destroyed,” she said.
The only eyewitness to the incident, Nancy Soto, testified that she was sitting at the bow chatting with a friend when she saw Monaghan with his back to her and Violatt with his back to the boat rail.
Her attention was drawn to a sharp movement of a leg being raised. She said she saw Monaghan grab the leg and with his other arm grab Violatt under the armpit and throw him overboard.
Soto stated that she went looking for security people to report the incident. Monaghan was by now, according to the defense, talking to an Irishwoman, Bernadette Mee.
As Monaghan was sitting with Mee, the court heard that Viva Taylor arrived and asked: “Where is my boyfriend? What have you done with my boyfriend?” Monaghan, the court was told, stated that he did not know what she was talking about.
Giving evidence, Mee stated that when Taylor left, and having heard that someone was overboard, she asked Monaghan if he knew about it. She said that Monaghan had indicated that he thrown Voillat overboard after Voillat had hit him in the nose.
Mee said that she then said, “I hope they find that guy,” to which Monaghan replied, “So do I.”
Defense attorneys Ken Quigley and Brandon Wen did not call witnesses and rested on the basis that the prosecution had not proved its case.