Defence: Clonmel murder evidence is 'circumstantial'
Closing speeches have been heard in the Central Criminal Court trial of a Clonmel man accused of murdering his former girlfriend's new boyfriend.
Alex Freiberg (aged 30), of Bridgewater House, Clonmel, denies murdering 45-year-old Kieran Cambridge at Carrigeen Close, Clonmel, Co Tipperary on August 16, 2007.
The State's case is that the accused was unhappy about Catherine Shanahan's new relationship and that he entered her home armed with two knives. He allegedly threatened Ms Shanahan and then went upstairs and fatally stabbed Mr Cambridge who was in bed.
Michael Durack SC, prosecuting, told the jury in his closing speech that Mr Freiberg had the motive and opportunity to do what he is accused of.
Mr Durack drew attention to text messages sent by the accused before the killing to Ms Shanahan which said: "whatever happens it's all your own fault", "that place is going to turn into a war zone" and "it's going to be a night from hell".
Mr Durack said Ms Shanahan gave evidence that Mr Freiberg had entered her house that night and she had told gardaí the same thing at the scene.
Mr Durack said evidence had been given that Mr Freiberg had gone to a friend's house in the early hours and washed himself and all of his clothes, including his runners. Evidence was also given that a taxi had dropped the accused to Ms Shanahan's estate and that a friend had picked him up from there.
Defence counsel, David Sutton SC, told the jury that this was a "one-witness case" and a "circumstantial case in which you are being asked to draw inferences".
He said that Ms Shanahan was unreliable and a "proven liar".
He said she had exaggerated and told a "series of lies" in order to "gild the lily" and present herself as a decent person.
He said she was a drug addict who was buying hard drugs on the night Mr Cambridge died.
Mr Sutton said there was no forensic evidence linking the accused to the scene, or any evidence to back up Ms Shanahan's testimony.
He said: "when you get caught in a house with a dead man you have to think on your feet, you have to come up with an explanation."
Mr Sutton said that Louise Maguire told the truth when she said that Ms Shanahan had told her that she did not know who had come into the house that night.
Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy will charge the jury of seven men and five women on Monday morning before sending it to begin its deliberations.
