Girlfriend: Murder victim ‘tried to defend himself’

The accused’s girlfriend in a Dublin murder trial has testified that the deceased, her ex-boyfriend, was trying to defend himself on the ground while being beaten and stabbed to death.

Catherine Hoare was giving evidence to the Central Criminal Court today in the trial of Peter Murray (aged 21) of Donomore Crescent, Killinarden, Tallaght, Dublin.

Mr Murray has pleaded not guilty to the murder there on April 12, 2002, of Peter Bisset, of Cushlawn Park, also in Tallaght, the 23-year-old father of Ms Hoare’s child.

In the sixth day of the trial, Ms Hoare agreed that there was ongoing and serious trouble with Mr Bisset over access to their child.

She said Mr Bisset was demanding access at night, when he was drunk. The then three-year-old girl was brought to the witness’ parents on Sundays for the purpose of access to the Bisset family.

She told the court that Mr Bisset phoned her on the night of April 11, 2002, and told the accused he was going to be sliced up. She said the atmosphere in the house between this phone call and Mr Bisset’s arrival was terrifying.

In his closing address to the jury, Patrick McCarthy SC, prosecuting, said this was as clear a case of murder in the eyes of the law that was ever likely to be seen.

Mr McCarthy referred to the forensic evidence of Peter Bisset’s blood being found on the accused’s clothing. This, he said, had come from the deceased towards Mr Murray in splatters, showing the persistence of the attack.

The jury’s attention was drawn to what Mr McCarthy described as the "cold-bloodedness" of taking Mr Bisset’s phone after killing him. Mr McCarthy said the accused did this to hide any evidence of earlier contact with the deceased.

The prosecutor also reminded the court of the accused’s denial of all knowledge of the incident on the morning after the killing. "He told a tissue of lies to the gardaí and signed it," he said, adding that this was indicative of his guilt.

The jury heard from the defence today too. Brendan Nix SC, for the accused, said the last few days might have been a revelation for them in terms of life on Donomore Crescent.

Mr Nix said there had been a culture of vigilantism in the neighbourhood at the time, "a culture of self-reliance, doing it for ourselves, taking care of our own problems and getting a few mates around to sort things out".

The defence asked if it was any wonder that this young boy should fall into this situation. He told the jury to go back to being 18, put themselves in Peter Murray’s shoes and ask themselves what they would have done.

Mr Nix said it was totally clear that Peter Murray was aware of the side of Mr Bisset’s character responsible for giving "hidings" to Ms Hoare.

Finally, Mr Nix described his client as "clearly not a bad fellow", referring to Mr Murray’s assertions that no man should hit a woman and no parent should visit a child when drunk.

"He has this quality about him of respect, a gentlemanly way, wherever it came from, having raised himself up on the streets of Dublin," he said.

The trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Paul Carney.