A Dublin man accused of murder told gardai he was headbutted by the victim and that he brought a knife to the scene to protect himself, a jury at the Central Criminal Court was told yesterday.
When he found out the victim had died from the stabbing, the accused said to detectives: "Give me a gun and I'll shoot myself".
Detectives were giving evidence of the arrest of Mr David Larkin (34), formerly of Victoria Street, Dublin, on the third day of his trial. Mr Larkin denies the murder of Mr Michael Murphy (39) from Ballymun, outside the home of Mr Larkin's former girlfriend in Ivar Street, Stoneybatter, on March 21st, 1998.
Counsel for Mr Larkin, Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC and Mr Peter Finlay SC, yesterday entered a formal admission that Mr Murphy died as a result of stab wounds inflicted by their client. The jury must decide if Mr Larkin is guilty of murder.
He has already pleaded guilty to seriously assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Ms Christine Hughes, on the same night.
Det Sgt Christopher Kelly of Bridewell Garda station told Mrs Justice McGuinness that interviews with the accused were videotaped and written notes were also taken by detectives.
Mr Larkin told detectives that after ringing Ms Hughes several times the night before, he decided to go to her house, but took a knife from his sister's kitchen when he heard a man answering her phone.
In an unsigned statement made to Garda Dominic Cox and Garda John Carroll, Mr Larkin said he decided to "kick around to Christine's house" that night because he felt she was messing around with his head. Referring again to the man answering her phone, he said: "I was going to use the knife for my protection if need be."
When he got to the house, he banged on the door and shouted in, he said. "I was angry and jealous. I didn't know what I was thinking. I wanted to say my piece".
When he heard Michael Murphy ask for the key, he returned to the door. As he pushed it, it was opened. Then, he said, Mr Murphy "loafed me, as in headbutted me on the nose".
In the moments that followed, David Larkin said he grabbed his knife and stabbed Mr Murphy in the stomach and then "a few more times". He admitted running after him down the street and said he may have stabbed him again there.
He also admitted going back to the house and pulling Ms Hughes out from under a bed.
"I don't remember if I punched her but I kicked her and stamped on her face," he said.
"I didn't think I had killed the deceased. I didn't think I forced the knife hard enough into him to kill him. I just wanted him to back off," he said.
"It sounds like I planned all this but I didn't. I didn't want to stab anybody or hurt Christine."
The trial continues.