Jury hears how accused said 'just charge me with it' to gardaí

A man accused of murdering German tourist Bettina Poeschel allegedly told gardaí to "just charge me with it" during his interrogation at Drogheda garda station two years ago, a jury at the Central Criminal court heard today.

The jury heard that when detectives put it to Murphy that DNA tests identified him with the semen found on Poeschels body, he began "visibly shaking".

When asked by Det. Sgt McGrath to explain this, Murphy allegedly replied: "I can't talk about this. Just charge me with it".

When pressed to explain the different accounts he gave people about his back injury on the day of Poeschels' disappearance on September 25, 2001, Murphy again replied, "just charge me".

Detective Sergeant Gerard McGrath was giving evidence on day 8 of the trial of Michael Murphy, aged 42, who denies murdering 28-year-old Bettina Poeschel on the Donore Road, Co Meath on or between September 25 and October 17, 2001.

Earlier the court heard how Murphy was at home sleeping in bed when three detectives walked into his bedroom at 8am in the morning on October 27.

"I went into the front bedroom. Michael Murphy was asleep at the time. I came into the room and he awoke," said Det Sgt McGrath.

He told the jury Murphy was arrested and taken to Drogheda garda station within twelve minutes.

The trial continues this afternoon before Mr Justice Aindrias O'Caoimh and a jury of seven men and five women.