A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for life by the Central Criminal Court for the murder of a Google employee.
Dane Pearse stabbed Mark Spellman (26) in the street following a confrontation. He was found guilty of murder by a jury of six men and six women following an eight-day trial.
Members of the jury wept as Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed the mandatory sentence. He heard that Pearse, of Londonbridge Drive, Irishtown, Dublin, had six previous offences for public order, criminal damage and drugs offences.
Mr Spellman's sister, Emma, read a statement to the court on behalf of her family. She said Mark had always been a smiling, caring, happy and amazing person who would do anything for anyone. She said he had had high hopes and ambitions and was her inspiration.
Emma Spellman said that the day that her brother died, "a little piece of all of us died too".
She said: "I have lost count of the number of nights I have cried myself to sleep."
Since the death of Mark, her other brother had had to leave his life in Chicago. Ms Spellman said that she would miss Mark's laugh and bear hugs.
"I hate that I can't call you, I need your advice," she said. She said: "I walk past your picture every morning and am really sad and lonely for you".
She said that there would now always be an empty seat at the Christmas table for Mark.
Diarmaid McGuinness SC, defending, read a letter of apology from Pearse in which he accepted responsibility for causing Mr Spellman's death. He said words could not describe how sorry he was and he would gladly change places with the deceased.
Det Sgt Barry Walsh agreed with Mr McGuinness that Pearse, a father of one, had attempted suicide following the killing and had to be stopped from injuring himself at the top of a building in October last year.
Pearse denied murdering Mr Spellman, from Dalkey, at Londonbridge Road, Irishtown on August 4th, 2007. The jury spent just over 2½ hours deliberating before convicting him.
It had heard Mr Spellman and two male friends were walking home after a work night out when Mr Spellman became involved with the accused who was heading home from the pub with his girlfriend.
A confrontation took place and Pearse ran into his house and armed himself with a knife and baton as Mr Spellman continued his walk home.
Evidence was given that Pearse then ran around a corner waving the weapons and attacked Mr Spellman who was fatally stabbed in the chest and abdomen. Pearse told gardaí that he had meant only to frighten the deceased.
The jury had heard from Oisín Hoctor who was with Mr Spellman on the night he died.
Mr Hoctor told the court that he, Mr Spellman and Finbarr O'Mahoney were walking home from a work party.
Mr Spellman was walking slightly ahead of his friends along Londonbridge Road and disappeared around a corner. There Mr Spellman became involved with the accused.
Pearse told gardaí that he was on his way home from the pub with his girlfriend and they were "messing" and chasing each other.
He said Mr Spellman had shouted "where are you running to" at him.
Words were exchanged and Pearse ran at Mr Spellman. The deceased kicked Pearse in the chest knocking him to the ground. Mr Hoctor said Pearse looked embarrassed, but got up and got his bearings.
The jury heard that Mr Spellman shook Pearse's hand and continued on his way but Pearse went into his house and armed himself with an ornamental knife which he had in his bedroom. He also took a souvenir baton and went back outside.
Pearse ran towards Mr Spellman swinging his arms. The two came together and fell through a gate into a garden. They scuffled and Mr Spellman suffered two fatal stab wounds.
Mr O'Mahoney told the court that he saw Pearse stab his friend before they fell into the garden. Pearse then got up and left the scene leaving Mr Spellman lying on his back and bleeding profusely.
He was pronounced dead at St Vincent's hospital at 3.25am after 50 minutes of attempted resuscitation.