A friend of a young unemployed man beaten to death in the grounds of a Clonmel hospital told the Central Criminal Court yesterday that hours before he was killed he had "a big wad of money inside his wallet".
Mr Douglas Smith, of Ard na Greine, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, was giving evidence at the trial of Mr Anthony Buck (23), of Garrymore, Clonmel, who has pleaded not guilty to robbing and murdering Mr David Nugent (22), of Highgrove, Clonmel, in the grounds of St Joseph's Hospital between 11 p.m. on July 8th and 1 p.m. on July 9th, 1996.
Mr Smith said that, at about 11 p.m. on July 8th, he was standing with another witness outside a house when Mr Nugent approached and spoke to them. He said he had borrowed "a fiver" from Mr Nugent, and it was then that he noticed "he had a big wad of money inside his wallet".
He and his friend wondered why Mr Nugent had not called back later that night, he said, because "he was meant to call back after meeting Anthony Buck".
Mr Smith said the accused man came to his friend's house the next day. "Anthony Buck asked me had I seen David Nugent, that he never turned up. That's what he said."
Three witnesses told the court they had seen the accused at a party in a shed at the back of his house on the night of the killing.
Ms Melissa Hackett said that some time after midnight the accused came into the shed from the laneway behind it. He handed her a garden fork to hold while he climbed in. The witness said Mr Buck stayed for a few minutes before leaving with the fork.
The trial continues.