An army sergeant accused of murder told garda∅ his intention was "to scare, not to kill" on the night he fatally wounded a man living two doors from him.
Mr Tommy O'Brien (37), Milltown Estate, Ashbourne, Co Meath, denies the murder of Dermot McKeever (20) at the estate on January 1st, 2000.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday that in a statement made to garda∅ following his arrest, Mr O'Brien said he could not remember loading the gun and could only recall shooting one shot through the main front window of the house.
Mr O'Brien told garda∅ he had a drink problem and could not remember things which happened when he drank heavily.
Mr O'Brien said in his statement he could not remember loading the gun nor could he remember calling to the door of Mr McKeever's house.
The State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, told the court that Mr McKeever died as a result of shotgun wounds to the abdominal area. The trial continues today.