Murder accused ‘fell asleep after killing’ woman

A murder accused told gardaí he went home for dinner and fell asleep in front of his TV after beating a woman to death with a hammer, his trial heard yesterday.

The jury has heard evidence that Anne Shortall told Roy Webster she was pregnant with his child and wanted money for an abortion, but it emerged yesterday that a pathologist’s report showed she was not pregnant.

Roy Webster, aged 40, from Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Anne Shortall, 47, on Good Friday, April 3, 2015, at The Murrough, Co Wicklow.