Chance encounter led to fatal stabbing, court told
Det Sgt Tom O'Connor told a jury at the Central Criminal court trial of Robert McNamara (28) that the accused told gardai he had a chance encounter with Brendan O'Connell on December 16, 1999.
McNamara, of Clarina Park, Ballinacurra, Westin, Limerick denies murdering Mr O'Connell in the People's Park in Limerick on December 16, 1999. The victim, of Hillview Grove, Doon, Co Limerick, died from a single stab wound to the heart.
Reading from a statement made following his arrest, Sgt O'Connor said McNamara told gardai that he had a chance meeting with the deceased in a pub on the morning of the incident. "I met Raymond, I think that's his name, upstairs," the accused told gardai. "I was playing the jukebox and Raymond had said he liked the music I was playing ... the two of us blended into each other," he continued.
Mr McNamara said they played pool and had a few pints, before going to Mr O'Connor's sister's house to borrow money.
"He gave me a brown handled knife, we talked about robbing a handbag from anywhere really," he said. After returning briefly to the pub, the accused and Mr O'Connor bought cans of beer and climbed the gates to gain access to the People's Park."I got paranoid over the way he was moving towards me," Det Sgt O'Connor said. He said he had the knife out "playing with it" in his right hand while Mr O'Connell sat next to him.
"I just went like that (witness made a sideways stabbing motion) ... I hit him in the chest once," the witness read.
The trial continues on Monday.
- Niamh Nolan
