Murder trial witness 'in fear of life'
The chief eyewitness in a murder trial has told the Central Criminal Court he did not tell the full story to gardaí in his first statement because he was in fear of his life.
Sandro Dambrosio today spent his second day in the witness box in the trial of Dubliner Shay Wildes, who denies shooting Declan Griffin (aged 32) from Coolock in Dublin.
The 37-year-old from Corbally Park in Tallaght has pleaded not guilty to the murder on Saturday April 5, 2003 in the Horse and Jockey pub, in Inchicore, Dublin.
Defence barrister, John Peart SC put it to him that when he said the words: "I now know," in describing Mr Wilde’s exit from the killing in his second statement, Mr Dambrosio was lying.
"You’re making too much out of three words," replied the witness. "I had the information the whole time. I didn’t want to give it. I knew the consequences".
Mr Peart suggested that Mr Dambrosio had, in fact, "legged it with him" and not seen the accused prepare to jump over a table.
"I stumbled out of the bar through shock. I couldn’t run. My legs were like jelly," he replied. "I didn’t hang around all day either. That’s the truth," he added.
Mr Peart read through the witness’ phone records and asked him why so many phone-calls between him, the accused and the deceased that day, lasted only seconds. Mr Peart suggested that all that could be said in such a short time was: "It’s on".
"I had no idea there was going to be a murder in the Horse and Jockey. I recall trying to get through to people. I was getting voicemails most of the time," explained Mr Dambrosio.
When it was put to him that he had made all the calls and Shay Wildes had made none, Mr Dambrosio replied: "He’s cleverer than me".
Another local, who was present at the killing, took the stand today. Brian Gaynor was called and questioned by Mr Justice Philip O’Sullivan.
Mr Gaynor told the judge he retracted the statement he made to the gardaí two days after the shooting, because he no longer remembered seeing what he described in it.
"When I made the statement, I was totally in shock. All I can remember was there was a bang. I did not see anything," he said, adding that he drank about 13 pints the day of the killing and did not even remember going home.
He recalled that there was a Confirmation party in the pub and remembered a girl’s screams following the gunfire. "Other girls grabbed their children and just ran," he explained.
Mr Gaynor remembered seeing Sandro "Rossie" Dambrosio in a phone-box outside the pub. "I grabbed Rossie’s shoulder. He turned around, didn’t say anything, but didn’t look to impressed with me," he said.
"Let’s get something straight. Rossie was not my friend," added the witness.
The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice O’Sullivan and a jury of seven men and five women.
