Poeschel accused 'asked garda to apologise to family'
A 42-year-old Louth man accused of the murder of a German tourist allegedly told gardaí to tell her parents he was sorry for taking her life, a jury heard at the Central Criminal court today.
Detective Garda Paul Gilton testified that the accused, Mr Michael Murphy, broke down sobbing and trembling after almost eight hours of questioning the day of his arrest on 27 October 2001.
“He said ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’ and broke down sobbing with his head in his hands and was visibly shaking,” Det Gda Gilton told the court.
“He then said ‘just tell that girls’ parents I’m sorry for taking her life and for what I did to her. I’m so so sorry’,” said Gilton.
The trial Mr Murphy resumed today after six days of legal argument.
Mr Murphy, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, is charged with the murder of 28-year-old journalist Bettina Poeschel on a date on or between September 25 and October 17, 2001.
He was arrested at his home on October 27, 2001 and is pleading not guilty to her murder.
Minutes before his breakdown at Drogheda Garda Station, Mr Murphy requested a visit from his girlfriend, Samantha Johnson, who was also arrested that day.
Det Gda Gilton read out to the court a memo of what was said during Ms Johnson’s visit.
When she asked him if he did it, Mr Murphy allegedly replied: ‘What do you think?’ whereupon Ms Johnson repeated her question: ‘Tell me, did you do it?’.
The accused allegedly then replied: ‘I’m sorry Samantha’.
Ms Johnson asked again: “Did you do it Michael? Tell me the truth”, to which Murphy said: “Don’t raise your voice” and asked for her to leave, according to Det Gda Gilton.
Mr Murphy was “visibly shaken” after her visit.
“I noted at the time that he was visibly shaking. He was trembling,” said the detective.
Mr Murphy then allegedly put his head in his hands and began sobbing.
Detectives asked him what happened the day of Ms Poeschel’s disappearance and Mr Murphy told them to tell her parents that he was sorry for taking her life.
“I felt that he was going to admit to me what he had done to Bettina Poeschel and so I pressed on and asked him what happened,” Det Gda Gilton told defence counsel Mr Patrick MacEntee SC.
“I asked him: ‘How did you kill her, Michael?’ and he replied: ‘I don’t want to say anything else about it, I’m so, so sorry’,” Det. Gda Gilton said.
Mr Murphy was “sobbing” and “trembling” and asked to be returned to his cell.
The accused, dressed in a blue shirt and tie, sighed deeply and kept his hands clasped in front of his face during Det Garda Gilton’s cross-examination today.
The jury has heard that Ms Poeschel's semi-naked body was found lying face down in the grass almost three weeks after she disappeared.
The jury also heard that the body was so badly decomposed that former State Pathologist Dr John Harbison could not ascertain the cause of death.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Aindrias O’Caoimh tomorrow.
