Stabbing victim pleaded for his life, court hears

A man who was stabbed to death pleaded for his killer to stop while he was being attacked on the ground, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

Valerij Makarov (aged 25), also known as 'Andris Simonis', Earlsfort Drive, Lucan, Co Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tomas Lukosevicious (aged 30), on May 11, 2003 in Lucan.

The accused has also pleaded not guilty to causing intentional or reckless harm to Mr Aldevinias Gudavicious (aged 34) and to threatening to harm Jonas Bernotas (aged 21), on the same date in Lucan.

Mr Bernotas told the court today that the deceased saw through the window of the accused's house that his friend, Mr Gudavicious, "was being hit by a knife".

The court then heard that Mr Lukosevicious broke down the front door with his legs and the two men went towards the kitchen where they had seen their friend being attacked.

"He (the accused) ran towards us with the knife and he said that he would kill us," Mr Bernotas told the court through an interpreter.

The court heard that Mr Bernotas turned and ran outside "until I heard Tomas screaming". The altercation continued outside of the house of the accused on Earlsfort Drive.

"I saw my friend being severely hit and then be killed," Mr Bernotas said.

He told the court that Mr Lukosevicious shouted to the accused while he was on the ground: "What are you doing? Stop, it hurts."

"Tomas was trying to push Andris with his arms and legs," he said.

Mr Bernotas told how the accused got up "and I started running". Bernotas ran towards a neighbour's house and Makarov ran after him, the court heard.

"He was standing at the gateway of the woman's house and said that he would kill me," Mr Bernotas said.

The jury has heard that the three men went to the home of the accused to have a "friendly discussion" about a payment allegedly promised back to Mr Bernotas for the procurement of a job.

Defence counsel Mr Hugh Hartnett told the court that a cement block was thrown through the windshield of a car in Makarov's driveway four hours before the fatal stabbing occurred.

Mr Hartnett SC added that the accused had received threats the same day saying "that the same will happen to your car and your children will be kidnapped if you don't pay the money".

The trial before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of five men and seven women continues on Monday.