Closing speeches heard in Waterford murder trial

The jury in the trial of a Waterford teenager accused of murder were today told not to “lack the courage” to acquit him on the grounds of self-defence at the Central Criminal Court.

Justin Longman (aged 18) of Larchville, Waterford, denies murdering Brian O’ Neill (aged 18) of Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Waterford, by stabbing him to death at Woodlawn Grove in the city on February 13, 2005.

In his closing address, senior counsel for the defence Mr Stephen Lanigan-O’Keefe SC referred indirectly to the trial of Padraig Nally.

In a “recent case”, he said, the accused was found guilty of manslaughter for “finishing off” the deceased when he no longer posed a threat.

“The facts here are entirely different,” Mr Lanigan-O’Keefe told the court. “You know that right up until the moment when the fight was broken up, Brian O’Neill was swinging away.”

Mr Lanigan-O’Keefe said the evidence of witnesses showed the atmosphere of the party at Woodlawn Grove, where Mr O’Neill was killed, changed completely when he arrived.

“He brings with him an atmosphere of menace. He was a bully,” he said. Senior counsel for the prosecution, Mr Connor Devally SC, told the jury that if Mr Longman had acted in self-defence, the force used was “excessive” and “unreasonable”.

“Can I suggest to you that the evidence is that Mr Longman had Mr O’Neill in a headlock? He had a knife in his hand and he applied it with force repeatedly to the head and left side of Mr O’Neill,” he said.

Mr Devally asked the jury to consider if Mr Longman had acted with reasonable force. “It cannot be,” he said, and told the jury to return a verdict of murder or manslaughter.

Following the closing speeches, Mr Justice Philip O’Sullivan began his charge to the jury, which will conclude tomorrow morning.

The nine women and three men will then be sent to deliberate a verdict.