Wicklow man denies murdering life-long friend with rock

A 23-year-old Wicklow man has gone on trial accused of killing his friend with a rock.

Thomas O'Connor of Burnaby Heights in Greystones denies murdering John O'Brien at Farrankelly Road in Delgany on the evening of June 4, 2010. He admits hitting Mr O'Brien with a rock.

The state has said that when Mr O'Connor was charged with murder, he replied: "I didn't mean to kill him."

They added there would be evidence the deceased died from head injuries as a result of blunt-force trauma.

This afternoon, prosecution witness Ashley Carroll, who stopped at the scene, said she was shocked by how calm Thomas O'Connor was when he told her "That's John over there", referring to the person lying on the road.

She said they had been friends for almost all their lives.

She also said he seemed "stone-cold sober" and that he "smirked and sniggered" when he told her he was going home.