Murder trial witness quizzed about argument

A witness in the trial of a Nigerian man who denies murdering his Jamaican wife with a lump hammer has been asked about an argument between the deceased and her sister.

Ms Sharon Facey was living at the Dublin apartment where Natasha Gray’s body was found

She has been giving evidence under cross-examination at the Central Criminal Court in the trial of Goodwill Uduchukwu (aged 32) with a previous address at Royal Canal View, Royal Canal Bank, Phibsboro who denies the murdering Ms Gray, a mother of two (aged 25) at the same address.

Ms Facey told Mr Blaise O’Carroll SC, defending, that Ms Gray and her sister Nicola Curtis had not had a big argument but she said Mrs Curtis was being “very strict” with her sister.

In earlier evidence Ms Facey told the jury that Ms Gray had left the house for a couple of days after the arrival of the accused at the apartment.

She claimed the deceased did not want him there.

In evidence this morning she said Nicola Curtis had suggested her sister call the gardaí.

“It wasn’t a big argument. Nicola was very serious and concerned about it. She wasn’t happy about her leaving her baby. She said find another way to sort this out. You can’t leave," said Ms Facey.

The witness was also asked about phone calls made from a mobile number which the prosecution are expected to say belonged to the accused.

Mr O’Carroll put it to her that phone records show these calls were made at 1236, 1250 and 1259 whilst she had said she thought the accused had left the apartment after 1pm.

Mr O’Carroll said it was his client’s defence that he was not in the apartment that day.

“He was there. I was there I saw him leave. I closed the door behind him,” she said.

She added: “You don’t look at your watch when you’re talking to people, you don’t know times you just guess times.”

The trial continues before the jury of five men and seven women.