‘Accused assaulted me and drove off with my sister’

The brother of a murdered mother of two has given evidence that the accused man violently assaulted him and drove off with his sister hours before her death.

Vesel Jahiri, of Louth Village, Dundalk, but originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to murdering Anna Finnegan at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on September 21, 2012.

The 33-year-old has also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm on Ms Finnegan’s brother Karl on the same date.

At the Central Criminal Court yesterday, Mr Finnegan said he was having tea with his sister when they “heard a bang”, coming from the front door.

The court has heard that Mr Jahiri accepts he forced open the door but claims Mr Finnegan had two knives in the kitchen.

Mr Jahiri claims he obtained one of the knives and stabbed Mr Finnegan in the head and chest in self-defence and that he had “no hand, act, or part in stabbing his former partner”.

Mr Finnegan, who was not cross-examined yesterday, said when he came to, his sister and Mr Jahiri were not in the kitchen. “When I went out the front door, I saw Anna standing in next door’s garden,” he said.

He said Anna had gone grey and pale, and that Mr Jahiri then ran out of the neighbours’ driveway.

“Before I could do anything, Vesel arrived back on the scene, three or four minutes after [Anna] collapsed. He came around the corner in his car.”

Mr Finnegan said Mr Jahiri “demanded I help him put her in the car”.

Mr Finnegan said he could not do anything as he was becoming aware of his chest injury.

The case continues.