The baby son of a woman stabbed to death by her estranged partner before he turned a knife on himself sat watching television on the couch as his parents struggled over the weapon, a court has heard.
Hadim Kedik (32), Connolly Street, Clonakilty, Co Cork, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Rose Patterson (30) last April.
Mr Kedik has admitted to gardaí he caused the stab wounds that killed his estranged partner but he said he did not plan to kill her.
The Central Criminal Court at Dublin heard from Det Garda Maurice Shanley who spoke with Mr Kedik on April 12th in Cork University Hospital, after the stabbing. He told him the couple had been arguing over access visits for their son (21 months) because Ms Patterson had not been bringing him for visits when she was supposed to.
Det Garda Shanley told John O'Kelly, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, that Mr Kedik told him Ms Patterson had pushed him twice. He said he picked up a black-handled knife off the table and swung it at Ms Patterson two or three times.
"After I fell down and got up and start again she wanted to take the knife. There was a struggle for a while and she couldn't take the knife," Mr Kedik told gardaí. Throughout the struggle their son sat on the couch watching television, Mr Kedik said.
Det Garda Shanley said Mr Kedik told him he could not think about getting help for Ms Patterson and he wanted to harm himself.
The court at Dublin heard earlier that the Turkish barber, who arrived to work in Clonakilty in 2002, was inconsolable in the days before the killing because his son had a suspected broken finger.
Romazan Cansu told Blaise O'Carroll SC for Mr Kedik, his friend was "inconsolable" about his son, telling him Ms Patterson, who had two children from a previous relationship, was not looking after their child.
Mr Cansu said he said "if somebody killed him or he slashed his wrists he wouldn't care." He said Mr Kedik had told him "she was going to pay".
Ms Patterson was found stabbed to death in Mr Kedik's flat. He was lying face down with self-inflicted cuts to his throat and neck. Their son was sleeping near their bodies.
Yesterday the jury of eight men and four women heard from medical officers who attended the scene.
Dr Liam O'Brien described an overwhelming stench of dried blood. Paramedic Amy Enright said the couple's son was crying and covered in blood and vomit.
The court heard yesterday both Mr Kedik and Mr Cansu had served in the Turkish army and fought in eastern Turkey. Mr Cansu said Mr Kedik told him he had seen many of his friends die in battle and his own father was dead.
He said Mr Kedik's drinking became worse when he separated from Ms Patterson.
Among items found in the flat were three blood-stained knives, a quarter bottle of vodka with bloody finger marks on it and blood-stained letters written in Turkish.
A broken mobile phone was found beside Ms Patterson's body and it looked as though a struggle had taken place.
The trial before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy continues.