A 51-year-old English man told a garda he had killed his wife and that her body was lying in a hotel room in Carrick-On-Suir, Co Tipperary, a murder trial jury heard today.
When arraigned, Mr John Collinson, a UK national with an address at Goes in the Netherlands, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, Margaret Rosaleen (Rosie) Collinson (51) at the Bell and Salmon Arms Hotel Carrick-On-Suir on March 3rd, 2002.
In evidence, Garda Sean Buckley told the Central Criminal Court jury that he was returning to the Garda Station in the patrol car at approximately 2 a.m. on March 3rd when he noticed a man standing outside the station.
He said when he approached him and asked if he was alright, he replied: "I'm only going to say this once and once only, Room 101 the Bell and Salmon Hotel. I've just killed my wife check it out".
He then handed Garda Buckley a hotel key with room 101 marked on it. Garda Buckley told the jury he noticed some blood on the end of the man's denim jacket and some blood spatters on his pants. He also noticed three scratches on the right side of his face and down his neck.
The court heard that two officers went to room 101 and discovered Mrs Collinson's body lying, apparently lifeless, on the bed. There was some blood staining in the hotel room and the deceased woman appeared to have facial injuries.
Garda Buckley told the court the man gave his name as John Collinson. He said the accused shouted that he wanted a cell. "He said 'I've f***ing murdered my wife, she's f***ing dead now put me in a f***ing cell. If you think I'm lying check it out."
The court heard the accused worked abroad on oil rigs. He flew from Amsterdam to Cork on February 25th and checked into the Bell and Salmon Arms. The jury heard that one of the primary issues in the case was whether the accused planned to kill his wife.
The State's case is that "there may have been a degree of pre-mediation, preparation and planning" on the part of the accused. The trial before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of six men and six women continues tomorrow.