Woman accused of murder 'shouted encouragement' as partner stabbed victim
A woman accused of murdering a taxi driver in Dublin shouted encouragement as her partner, also charged with the murder, repeatedly stabbed the victim, a court heard today.
The two accused Carlos Byrne (aged 22) and Lindsey Fahy (aged 25), both of Linnetsfield Square, Clonee, Co. Meath deny murdering Mr Mark Smith (31) at Fortlawn, Blanchardstown,Dublin on March 18, 2008.
Ms Elaine Lough who lives in Fortlawn told the Central Criminal Court that she heard roaring outside of her house on the night of the incident and saw Carlos Byrne leaning over the victim and repeatedly ``dig'' him with a knife.
She said she heard Ms Fahey scream: "That’s my fella Carlos, kill him."
Ms Lough said she then saw Ms Fahey hold onto Carlos’s back and repeatedly kick the victim as he lay on the floor.
It is the prosecution case that Mr Smith and his partner Ms Emma Shaw went for a drive to Linnetsfield to meet Mr Byrne. Mr Byrne and Ms Fahey got into the back of the car and Mr Smith drove them to Fortlawn, Blanchardstown.
When they arrived Mr Byrne put his arm around Mr Smith and stabbed him.
The attack continued on the street and it is alleged Ms Fahey stabbed Mr Smith once in the face and also kicked him repeatedly when he was on the ground.
Mr Smith suffered 43 stab wounds to his neck, face, chest and trunk and died at the scene from rapid blood loss.
Defence Counsel Mr Patrick Marrinan SC asked Ms Emma Shaw in cross-examination if she accepted that Mr Smith was supplying Carlos Byrne with drugs.
Ms Shaw accepted this but said: "I was only aware that Carlos was saying that Mark was supplying him with drugs after the murder."
Ms Shaw told the court she remembered that Mr Smith ask Mr Byrne if he was on heroin when he got into the car.
She said: "Mark asked Carlos if he was on gear, and Carlos said no he had a few drinks because it was Paddy’s day."
Ms Tara O’Brien a resident of Fortlawn witnessed the incident from her house on the night in question and told the court she heard Mr Smith plead with Mr Byrne to stop.
Ms O’Brien told the court she heard the taxi driver shout: "Stop Carl, Stop," but the smaller man kept going at him with the instrument in his hand.
Mr Joseph Tutey also a resident of Fortlawn told the jury he was watching television in his home when a man came in and asked him to ring an ambulance because someone was hurt outside his garden.
Mr Tutey told the court when he went outside he saw the victim lying in his front garden in a pool of blood.
He said: "I knelt down beside him and held his hand looking for a pulse and he looked at me and then passed away."
The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of six men and six women.
