A MEATH man accused of murder telephoned gardaí and told them he killed his friend “because he would not give him cocaine”, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
John Mooney (29), also known as John-Paul, with an address at Trim Road, Summerhill, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Thomas Canning (42), also from Summerhill, at Lough Lene, Collinstown, Co Westmeath on August 30th last year.
He has pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Mr Canning.
Opening the prosecution case, Michael Durack SC told the jury that they will have to decide whether or not Mr Mooney had the “intention to kill or cause serious harm” at the time of Mr Canning’s death.
He told the jury that the men had been friends for some time. Mr Mooney had difficulties with alcohol and drugs while Mr Canning was a separated father of two who was prone to depression.
Mr Durack said that the accused and the deceased collected their social welfare that afternoon in Summerhill and then took Mr Canning’s camper van for a drive round the area, calling in at various stops, including Castlepollard where they bought 24 cans of beer, before ending up that evening at Lough Lene.
The jury will also hear evidence from State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy that the cause of death was “a form of strangulation and that the deceased’s Adam’s Apple was fractured”.
Garda Martin Fox told the court he received a call from Mr Mooney at 3.42am. “He told me that he had just killed his friend.”
When gardaí arrived at the scene, they found Mr Mooney sitting in the passenger seat of the camper van, drinking a can of beer.
The trial continues.