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Photo of Wendy Hank provided by police. Osceola County Sheriff
Murder

Woman charged with murder of Irish man in Florida

Wendy Hank told police that she shot the 39-year-old in self-defence but detectives have said that evidence conflicts with this.

Updated 7.50pm

A 33-YEAR-old woman has been charged with the murder of an Irish man in Florida.

Police in Osceola County confirmed that Wendy Hank was arrested and subsequently charged with first degree murder, following a shooting incident on 20 August.

Hank told police when they arrived at the scene that she and her boyfriend, 39-year-old Darren William Haverty, originally from Dublin, were involved in a “verbal and physical altercation”.

She told deputies that he “battered her and approached her with a knife” when she shot him. His body was found at the scene.

During the investigation, police said detectives discovered evidence at the crime scene and during the autopsy that “conflicts with Hank’s statements of self defence”. Based on this information, Hank was arrested and booked into the Osceola County Jail.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed today that is is offering consular assistance to the man’s family.

Originally published 12.11pm

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