Accused: Nicola wanted rough sex

The man accused of strangling Nicola Furlong said the DCU student had demanded “rough sex” and “moaned” when he pressed her neck.

Musician Richard Hinds, from Memphis, Tennessee, also claimed police had pressured him into making a false statement.

For much of the hearing Mr Hinds, aged 19, referred to Ms Furlong as “Nicki”, presumably to indicate a level of familiarity that the two had built up over their brief three-hour encounter.