Stab victim was in "wrong place at the wrong time"

A young electronic technician who died from a fatal stab wound was "no more than an innocent bystander who was in the wrong place at the wrong time", a prosecuting lawyer told a murder trial jury today.

Mr Tom O’Connell SC was making his closing address to the jury as evidence finished in the trial of Mr Stephen Kelly, aged 21, of Westpark, Artane, Dublin.

Mr Kelly denies murdering Mr Jonathan Guy, aged 21, of Belcamp Crescent, Priorswood outside a house at Newgrove Estate, Donaghmede, Dublin in March 2001.

Mr Guy spent a week in Beaumont Hospital after suffering a stab wound to the chest, as he stood outside a house in the early hours of March 4. His condition deteriorated and he died as a result of his injuries on March 11.

Mr O’Connell said it was "nonsense" to suggest that the stabbing was an act of self-defence by the accused. "All the witnesses, including Stephen Kelly accept that Jonathan Guy was standing outside the house unarmed when he was stabbed," he said.

"On Stephen Kelly’s own admission, Jonathan Guy never struck him," he continued.

Mr Patrick MacEntee SC for the defence will address the jury tomorrow before they retire to begin their deliberations.