Murder accused 'armed himself with knife'
A man accused of murdering his sister's boyfriend armed himself with a butcher's knife moments after he saw her being beaten.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick heard that Johnny McNamara did not mean to kill 27 year-old John O'Sullivan - whom he described as a "friend".
Mr McNamara (aged 31), from Craeval Park, Moyross, Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his sister's boyfriend on August 13, 2001.
On the third day of the murder trial, the court heard evidence of a number of alleged admission statements made by Johnny McNamara shortly after his arrest.
Mr McNamara had been drinking heavily on the night in question and he was woken in bed by the sound of his sister, Louise, who was screaming at the front door.
He looked out the window and saw Louise being beaten and dragged by the hair along the road by her boyfriend - the late John O'Sullivan.
Johnny McNamara dressed quickly and went downstairs to the kitchen where he picked up a 12-inch long butcher's knife and went outside, the court heard.
John O'Sullivan was pulling lumps out of Louise McNamara's hair and he had a history of violence towards the accused man's sister, the court heard.
However, she never complained to gardaí about the beatings because the pair always made up afterwards.
The court heard that Johnny McNamara had chased his sister's boyfriend up a laneway to a green area - where he stabbed him a "few times".
According to the statement, the accused left the scene but came back a short time later and stabbed John O'Sullivan again because he was "very angry".
Johnny McNamara knew that his sister's boyfriend was hurt but he didn't think he was that bad and he had only wanted to frighten him, the jury heard.
When he went home he took off his clothes and runners and gave them to his sister Louise in a bag.
Evidence of an interview conducted by Det Gda Conn Daly with the accused was read out to the court in which Johnny McNamara said "I didn't mean to kill him - I'm very sorry about it".
However, he refused to sign the memorandum, the court heard.
Meanwhile, one of the prosecution witnesses - Aisling Bond - failed to appear in court yesterday and Mr Justice Paul Carney ordered a bench warrant for her arrest.
Mr Justice Carney told the court that the bench warrant would still have to be executed even if the trial had concluded.
"I do not tolerate the slightest disobedience of such orders and this command must run its course," said Justice Carney.
Evidence has now concluded in the case and summations from the prosecution and defence are due to begin today at the Central Criminal Court, currently sitting in Limerick.
This is the first time in the history of the State that a murder trial has taken place outside the capital.
