Barbie Kardashian found not guilty over threats to kill

A 22-year-old transgender woman, accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to a fellow inmate and a prison officer at Limerick Prison, has been found not guilty on all charges.

Barbie Kardashian had denied three charges and told gardaí that she never intended to carry out the threats.

Over the past four days, a jury of seven women and five men have heard evidence against Ms Kardashian, who is an inmate in Limerick Prison.

Fellow prisoner, Tegan McGhee, said she threatened to rape her on a date in February last year after a row over complaints about the accused not cleaning the prison showers.

Prison officer Róisín Linnane also gave evidence of threats of sexual violence against her by Ms Kardashian on two dates in June last year.

Both witnesses said they were shocked and terrified by the threats.

After being questioned by gardaí the accused confirmed she did make the threats against the two witnesses, but that she never intended to carry them out, and that they were made in a fit of rage after being falsely accused of leaving the prison showers in an unhygienic condition.

After deliberating for just over two-and-a-half hours, the jury returned verdicts of not guilty on three charges.

Judge Colin Daly had directed the jury to find the accused not guilty on a fourth charge.

Following the verdict Ms Kardashian smiled, clenched her fists in celebration, uttering "yes" and whispered to her legal time that she was so happy.