Accused 'saw red' when girlfriend insulted, court hears
A 28 year-old ‘new age’ traveller told gardaí he agreed to allow his girlfriend’s former partner join them on a campsite because he was scared of him.
Stuart Spicer, aged 28, told gardai that he later “saw red” when a fight broke out because the man, a Portuguese national, insulted the woman by calling her a whore.
At the Central Criminal Court today a murder trial jury heard Mr Spicer’s comments in a video-recorded statement to gardaí at Midleton following his arrest in connection with the death of Sergio Abru.
Spicer, with an address at Ballyquin, c/o Ardmore Post Office and two other men Steven Job, aged 31, of Whiting Bay, Ardmore, Co Waterford and Graeme Turnbull, aged 36, with an address at Ballyhooley Rd, Cork deny the murder of Mr Abru, aged 43, at Clashanahy, Ardmore, Co Waterford between September 6 and 7, 2002.
Mr Abru was found with fatal head injuries in a field near the campsite the morning after the fight.
In the video evidence Mr Spicer explained that earlier on September 6 while he was in his girlfriend Miriam Rooney’s house in Youghal he was confronted by Mr Abru.
“He said ‘can I come up to your camp’, I was put in a corner…I should have said no and obviously I was scared of him,” Mr Spicer said.
Later that evening when Ms Rooney, Mr Spicer and Mr Abru were in a caravan on the site with a number of others a fight broke out. Mr Spicer told gardaí that the deceased was “staring at Miriam” and saying “nasty things” to her.
“He was saying stuff to her, you slut, whatever, you whore…she was answering back,” he continued.
The accused said that when Graeme Turnbull asked him to stop, Mr Abru invited Mr Turnbull to fight him.
“Sergio was like, come on then, outside,” Mr Spicer said.
Mr Spicer said he followed the two men and Ms Rooney outside the caravan.
“He was pinned down but he was kicking away like a mad thing…he wasn’t going to stop…a fight started,” he said.
Mr Spicer said he kicked and punched Mr Abru and that Steven Job also joined in the row.
“It went pear-shaped from then on,” he said. “I got a clock in the head and we were just saying leave, would you ever leave.”
“I did see red, I have to let you know it was pure fear that I had,” he continued.
The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Kevin O’Higgins and a jury.
