The man who is on trial for the murder of a Kilkenny postmaster during a raid last year claims to be a member of Falun Gong and an asylum seeker from China, a court heard yesterday.
He told gardaí he had no money, could not get a work visa and was suffering from depression, the Central Criminal Court in Dublin heard.
Shu Shen (25), formerly of The Old Rectory, New Ross, Co Wexford, admits the manslaughter of Alan Cunniffe (32), on December 8th, 2006, but he denies his murder. Alex Owens SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the DPP would not accept Shen's manslaughter plea.
Mr Shen (25), has pleaded guilty to stealing more than €13,000 from the post office on John's Green in Kilkenny, and being in possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery in relation to the same incident.
Mr Shen was arrested soon after he shot Mr Cunniffe. He told Sgt Michael Maloney it was an accident and he never meant to shoot anyone. "He approached me, he was getting closer. I said 'I need the money'. He approached me. He said he want the money back. I did not mean it. Mistake. I thought the safety was on," Mr Shen told Sgt Maloney when he arrested him.
Mr Justice Paul Carney and the jury of six men and six women were read the notes from Garda interviews with Mr Shen, taken at Kilkenny Garda station where Mr Shen asked them not to contact the Chinese embassy because he was Falun Gong and had already suffered in China by being beaten because of his religion.
Mr Shen said he had come to Ireland seeking asylum and had lived in Kilkenny for a time, which was how he knew of the post office.
He had caught a bus from Dublin that morning and walked to the post office. "I was thinking about a robbery because I cannot get over my depression. I did not want to do it." He had brought the gun from Belfast for €200 and fixed it using superglue, the court heard.
"I did the robbery for two reasons. The first is the lack of concern about me and the second one is I wanted money."
In a further interview with Det Garda Liam Maher, read to the court, Mr Shen said he thought the gun was "crap" and he did not trust it would work."I don't want anyone to die, it can't be murder."
He said he had suffered a lot and was sick with depression. "I don't get an allowance, I can't get a working visa," Mr Shen said.
Mr Shen said the previous day he had gone to the Dublin Immigration Council seeking help but got nothing. "From the time I got the letter from the social welfare, my life ended a long time ago."
He said he was "totally terrified" and never thought he could shoot someone.
The court heard Mr Shen had been in Ireland for three years.
He completed the interview by saying: "I want to say that the Garda don't care about me at all or about asylum seekers."
Yesterday the court was read statements from two juveniles who cannot be named because of their age.
The girls were sitting in a car on Kilkenny's Wolfe Tone Street when two men were arguing on the street beside them, one wearing a balaclava and holding a gun. "He was pointing the gun at the other man," said one.
The men ran off farther down the street and the girl's father returned to the car and just before they drove away she heard a shot.
As they drove farther down the street, she saw the shot man. "He was holding his side and holding himself up on his elbow and looked like he was shouting," the court heard.
Her friend's statement said the men were fighting over a bag.
As they drove past she said she saw a man lying on the pavement and calling for help.
Mr Shen is represented by, Mr Paul Coffey SC.
The trial continues today.