Viramontes found guilty of attempted murder of Natasha McShane

Heriberto Viramontes

A man has been found guilty in America of the attempted murder of Silverbridge girl Natasha McShane and her friend Stacey Jurich in Chicago in April 2010.

Heriberto Viramontes was found guilty at Cook County Court yesterday evening of the attempted murders of Ms McShane and her friend, who were beaten and robbed as they returned home from a night out in the Bucktown neighbourhood of Chicago in April 2010.

The jury also found Viramontes guilty on six charges of aggravated battery and two of armed robbery.

He faces a maximum 120 years in prison when sentenced later this year.

Members of the McShane family – including mum Sheila, who is a member of the Stewart family from Silverbridge – hugged each other and cried after the verdict was read out, just before 6pm local time, after three and a half hours of deliberating by the jury.

Natasha’s brother Conor McShane, in a statement on behalf of the family, said the crime three and a half years ago brought “great sadness and sorrow to our home.”

He added: “The verdict provides us with a sense of justice, provides us with a sense of relief. This crime changed her life forever and has had a devastating impact on our entire family.”

He said it was a “daily struggle” for Natasha and that the crime had “ruined Natasha’s life.”

Natasha, now 27, remains unable to walk without support and can barely talk having suffered severe brain injuries during the attack.

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• Attack on Natasha McShane lasted just three minutes, court hears (talkofthetown.ie)

Natasha McShane before the attack

McShane accused Viramontes will not be taking the stand in his defence

Natasha McShane before the attack

Heriberto Viramontes, the man on trial in Chicago at present charged with the attempted murder of Silverbridge girl Natasha McShane, will not be taking the stand in his own defence.

Natasha, whose mum Sheila is a member of the Stewart family from Cox’s Demesne, has been left with extensive brain injuries and speech problems as a result of a baseball bat attack as she was walking home from a night out with a friend in Chicago in April 2010.

Viramontes is on trial at presented charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery and armed robbery in connection with the assault on Natasha and her friend Stacey Jurich.

Jurors were told yesterday, however, that the 34-year-old would not be testifying.

Already jurors have been played jailhouse recordings of Viramontes, in which he admitted he attacked the women. In one recording of his phonecalls from Cook County Jail, he could be heard saying: “My intention was not to kill them, my intention was to get money to get high.”

The defence team claims the evidence linking Viramontes to the crime is circumstantial and have attempted to cast doubt on the testimony of key witness Marcy Cruz, who was with him on the night in question.

The jury is expected to begin deliberating later today, after hearing closing arguments.

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• Attack on Natasha McShane lasted just three minutes, court hears (talkofthetown.ie)