A man accused of murdering his friend in a New Year's Eve fight has sought to spread blame for his death, appearing almost indignant at the prosecution case against him, a court has heard.
Karl Breen (27), of Nangor Crescent, Clondalkin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his friend Martin McLaughlin (21), but admits stabbing him three times, including one which pierced his heart, in the early hours of January 1st, 2006.
Counsel gave their respective closing speeches to the jury hearing the case in the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
Brendan Grehan SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said Mr Breen had sought to spread blame far and wide for his friend's death and it was inconceivable Mr McLaughlin's stab wounds were accidental.
Defence counsel for Mr Breen, Michael O'Higgins, told the jury of two women and 10 men the main prosecution witness, Elaine Fagan, Mr McLaughlin's girlfriend, was unreliable, her memory deficient, and the fact Mr Breen killed Mr McLaughlin did not make him a murderer.
Mr Breen, Mr McLaughlin, their girlfriends, Nicola Nugent and Miss Fagan, and three other couples had been celebrating New Year's Eve at Jurys Inn Hotel in Croke Park when the stabbing happened.
The court has heard the couples were arguing in the room about 4am culminating with Mr Breen grabbing Miss Fagan's hair after she had hit him, sparking the fight between the men.
Mr Grehan said Mr Breen had sought to make himself the victim and concocted a story to fit the case. Mr Breen's actions, including leaving the hotel after the stabbing, putting the knife in his pocket and then throwing it away and changing his shirt, all indicate he was someone quite deliberate in his actions, Mr Grehan said.
Mr Grehan said Mr Breen had used excessive self-defence and was grossly negligent in holding the knife in an outward position as Mr McLaughlin approached.
"This was murder, this was a situation where the accused may not have 10 minutes earlier intended to kill or cause serious injury to Mr McLaughlin but at the time this occurred his intention was to cause serious injury."
Mr O'Higgins said Miss Fagan's evidence was completely unreliable, her memory faulty either through alcohol consumed on the night or the trauma of events that unfolded.
Mr O'Higgins said the fact Mr Breen killed Mr McLaughlin did not make him a murderer and his actions in leaving the hotel were that of a panicked man.
Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins will complete his charge to the jury at 10am today.