A murder accused told gardai he "lost the head" while stabbing his friend "20 or 30 times", a jury in the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Mr John Paul Hayes (22) of Belcamp Green, Coolock, Dublin, has denied that on June 13th, 1999, he murdered Mr Francis Moore (33) at his home in Coultry Road, Ballymun, Dublin.
Det Garda Andrew O'Keeffe of Ballymun Garda Station told the court the accused gave a statement to gardai the morning after the killing.
"I kind of knew he (Mr Moore) was beating (my sister)," the statement read, adding that the accused said he stabbed Mr Moore "20 or 30 times. I just lost the head. I just kept thinking about (my sister)". Previously the court heard that the accused had been staying at the flat where his sister and Mr Moore were living. Mr Moore and the accused's sister had a "tempestuous" relationship, and a row between them had resulted in the accused's sister moving out of the flat. A week later Mr Moore was found dead.
The case before a jury of seven women and five men and Mr Justice Murphy continues.
