Taxi driver murder trail hears DNA evidence

A Central Criminal Court jury has heard that DNA matching a taxi driver who was fatally stabbed in Blanchardstown last year was found on the clothes of a man and a woman accused of murdering him.

Mark Smyth (aged 31) was stabbed over 40 times at Fortlawn Avenue on March 18, 2008.

Carlos Byrne (aged 23) and Lindsey Fahy (aged 26), both of Linnetsfield Square, Clonee, Co. Meath deny murdering him.

Doctor Yvonne O’Dowd from the Forensic Science Laboratory told Garnet Orange BL, prosecuting, that she found DNA which matched the deceased on Mr Byrne’s shoe and jumper and on Ms Fahy’s top and jacket.

On Wednesday the jury saw a video of gardaí, including Detective Garda Patrick Traynor, interviewing Mr Byrne. Under cross examination by Patrick Marrinan SC, defending Mr Byrne, he agreed that the accused voluntarily stated that he was sorry for what had happened on three occasions during the interview.

Det. Gda. Traynor also agreed with Mr Marrinan that gardaí put it to the accused man that he was known to gardaí as a drug addict and a thief but not someone who was of a violent disposition.

Det. Gda. Traynor agreed that he put it to Mr Byrne during interview that the stabbing of Mr Smyth was out of character. Det. Gda. Traynor said he had asked questions which, “were designed to get to the truth of what happened”.

The jury earlier heard that Mr Byrne and Ms Fahy were in the back of the deceased man’s car after he picked them up from their home. Mr Byrne told gardaí he owed Mr Smyth money for drugs. A row developed between the deceased and the two accused and Mr Smyth died after being stabbed 43 times.

The trial was adjourned at lunchtime today until tomorrow morning as a juror felt unwell. The prosecution is expected to complete its evidence tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Butler and the jury of six men and six women.