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A grave digger accused of murdering his associate has taken the stand at his personal trial, telling the jury that whereas their relationship was “poisonous”, he didn’t stab her to dying and had accomplished “all the things to save lots of her”.
Nonetheless, when questioned a couple of witness noticing bruises on mother-of-two Amadea McDermott’s physique previous to her dying, homicide accused Martin Hayes advised prosecution counsel that he “threw her” into a settee after “she wouldn’t let” him go to work.
“If somebody is hitting me I’ll hit them again; I’ve each proper to,” Mr Hayes later stated.
Mr Hayes additionally denied that he later confessed to a subsequent girlfriend that he had stabbed Ms McDermott, telling the Central Prison Court docket that Niamh Higgins was mendacity and that she hated him.
Mr Hayes (34), with an tackle at Poddle Shut, Crumlin, Dublin 12 has pleaded not responsible to murdering Amadea McDermott (27) at her house in Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock on or about July twentieth, 2017.
The Central Prison Court docket trial has heard that the accused advised emergency companies who arrived at her house that the mother-of-two had self-harmed by stabbing herself.
[ Woman had ‘black eye’ week before she died from stab wounds, murder trial told ]
A garda witness has additionally advised the jury that the deceased’s sister, Eucharia McDermott, alleged that Mr Hayes had been bodily abusive to the sufferer previously.
Taking the stand on Thursday afternoon, Mr Hayes advised his defence counsel Ronan Munro SC that he was in a 10-year relationship with Ms McDermott, that they met on social networking web site Bebo they usually had two kids collectively. “She was a superb mom and would do all the things for her children,” he stated.
The accused added: “Wanting again it was a poisonous relationship, when drink and medicines have been concerned that’s when it began to go bitter”.
He stated the pair drank vodka collectively of their home a couple of instances every week and in the event that they have been consuming “there can be medication as properly”. He stated they took cocaine and the “odd little bit of hashish”.
When it was put to him by his counsel that “poisonous” was a “form of buzz phrase”, Mr Hayes responded: “I didn’t belief her and she or he didn’t belief me”.
Requested by Mr Munro why that was, the accused stated that when Ms McDermott was pregnant with their first little one she had a relationship along with his “finest mate”. He stated when he discovered, they ended their relationship however received again collectively when she had their daughter.
[ Murder accused claimed to have found evidence partner was in incestuous relationship, jury hears ]
He stated that she additionally didn’t belief him. “We used the identical password for all our social media, she used to accuse me of not being at work. To at the present time I nonetheless use the identical password and I’ve entry to her Instagram,” he continued.
He admitted to having a tracker on her cellphone so he might examine her textual content messages.
Requested by his barrister whether or not “that was a bit bizarre”, the accused stated: “No, I simply didn’t belief her”.
The trial has heard that Mr Hayes’ cell phone was utilizing a hidden app on Ms McDermott’s cell to entry her contacts, callers, messages and social media.
He agreed that Ms McDermott would change into agitated every now and then when she consumed alcohol. “Principally verbal, insults and all,” he stated.
Mr Munro advised his shopper that the prosecution had steered he had stabbed Ms McDermott that evening. The accused stated he didn’t stab his associate and had accomplished all the things to save lots of her.
He denied confessing to Niamh Higgins, who he had a relationship with for a brief time frame, that he had stabbed Ms Ms McDermott.
Mr Hayes described his relationship with Ms Higgins to the jury as “simply poisonous as properly”.
[ ‘Abusive’ murder accused told new girlfriend he had ‘helped’ ex put knife through her stomach, witness tells trial ]
Mr Hayes stated that when he and Ms Higgins have been speaking about their previous relationships, he had advised her about his relationship with Ms McDermott and the way she had killed herself.
“You had a dialog [with Ms Higgins], did it conclude with you telling her that you simply stabbed Amadea?” requested counsel.
“Ah no,” replied the accused.
He stated Ms McDermott was nonetheless alive when he rang the ambulance on the evening she died. He stated he rang emergency companies 3 times and had held a towel on the wound.
Requested by Mr Munro whether or not he had anything to say, the accused stated: “She was a superb mom, she actually was and I didn’t do that”.
In cross-examination, Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, advised Mr Hayes that he had used a “borrowed phrase” to explain his relationship with Ms McDermott as poisonous and the identical phrase for his relationship with Ms Higgins.
The barrister requested the witness have been each relationships poisonous in the identical manner. Mr Hayes stated they weren’t and that he had trusted Ms Higgins.
The trial continues on Friday earlier than Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight males and 4 girls, when closing speeches will begin.
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