Lawyers for an Irishman accused of stabbing his best friend to death entered a plea of not guilty yesterday on grounds he was mentally ill when he carried out the attack in Panama two years ago, Reuters reports.
A Panama court appointed a jury for the trial of Mr Peter Byrne (35), from Cork, who has been held in a psychiatric hospital since his childhood friend, Mr Max Conroy, was stabbed to death at his Panama City apartment in July 1999.
The court was due to hear opening arguments on the first day of the supreme court trial in the city yesterday.
"Everyone knows that Peter Byrne committed the crime," Edna Ramos, his lawyer, said. "We are looking for a jury verdict to declare Peter innocent on grounds of insanity."
The trial is expected to last five or six days.