A Lithuanian man allegedly stabbed another man to death because of a dispute over €50, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Mr Valerij Makarov (25), also known as "Andris Simonis", of Earlsfort Drive, Lucan, Co Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Tomas Lukosevicious (30), on May 11th, 2003, in Lucan. The accused has also pleaded not guilty to causing intentional or reckless harm to Mr Aldevinias Gudavicius (34), and to threatening to harm Mr Jonas Bernotas (21) on the same date in Lucan.
Opening the case, prosecuting counsel Mr Patrick James McCarthy SC told the court that the deceased was one of three men who visited the home of the accused on the night of the alleged murder. The purpose of the visit was to recover a portion of €500 which had been paid to the accused for the procurement of a job for Mr Bernotas.
Speaking through an interpreter, Lithuanian Mr Gudavicius told the court that "it is customary among Lithuanians that they sell jobs to each other". He said he went to the door of the accused in Lucan as a mediator to retrieve €50 back from a payment made to the accused for Mr Bernotas's job.
Mr McCarthy SC told the court that during the visit to Mr Makarov's house, at around 10 p.m., an incident occurred in which the accused "grabbed a knife and inflicted a number of stab wounds".
Mr Gudavicius explained that a woman answered the door and he entered the hallway. "There was nobody there at first but then Andris came and started hitting me with a knife," he said.
"I did not know that over €50 it is possible to kill a man," Mr Gudavicius added.
Mr McCarthy SC told the court that the friends of the stabbed man were alleged to have kicked down or entered through the front door when they realised that a stabbing had occurred.
Further stab wounds were allegedly inflicted by the accused outside the house.
The trial continues today.