Murder trial sees video of accused at deceased’s birthday party

A murder trial jury has seen a video of the deceased celebrating his birthday with the woman alleged to have murdered him by driving him into a harbour, where he drowned.

The video was played to the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday morning, the seventh day of the trial.

Marta Herda (29) of Pairc Na Saile, Emoclew Road, Arklow, Co Wicklow is charged with the murder of Csaba Orsos (31) on March 26, 2013.

The Polish waitress has pleaded not guilty to murdering the Hungarian at South Quay, Arklow. Both had worked at Brook Lodge Hotel in Aughrim.

Ms Herda told gardaí Mr Orsos had been in love with her but she didn't feel the same way. She said it was "24 hours a day" and that she couldn't take it anymore when she drove to the harbour that morning.

The deceased man's brother, Zoltan Sandor, testified on Wednesday that his brother's birthday was on July 24th and that he and his family had celebrated it with him at his home around that time in 2012.

He was shown a video of the celebration that a friend of the deceased had discovered after his death. Ms Herda could be seen sitting at the table next to the deceased as a he blew out the candles on his cake.

He agreed with the defence that he could be heard telling Ms Herda that she was the present or something to that effect.

He was also asked if Ms Herda could be heard replying that she had come to the house to warn the deceased that his manager knew he had lied when he had rung in sick.

“My English at this time is 50/50,” he replied, indicating that he couldn’t be sure what she had said.

The jury also heard that Ms Herda had pointed to the bride’s and groom’s seats at a wedding once, while telling the deceased: “This will be us one day.”

The evidence was given by Martin Penn, a former colleague of the deceased and the accused.Under cross examination by the defence, he accepted that the line could have been one that the deceased had used many times.

“She does accept that she said it , but in a lighthearted way in the context of him having said that to her on many occasions,” said Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, defending.

The trial continues Wednesday afternoon before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.