THE TRIAL of a man accused of shooting another man dead in a car in north Dublin in 2005 has begun at the Central Criminal Court.
Craig White (23), of O’Devaney Gardens in the north inner city, denies murdering Noel Roche (27) at Clontarf Road, Dublin, on November 15th, 2005.
Opening for the prosecution, Anthony Sammon SC said Mr Roche was the front-seat passenger in a Ford Mondeo car near the junction of Seafield Road and Clontarf Road.
Mr Roche had earlier left the Point theatre at about 9.30pm.
Mr Sammon said the jury would hear that a stolen blue Peugeot drove alongside the Ford Mondeo and a number of shots were fired, killing Mr Roche.
Counsel said that some time later a woman on Furry Park Road saw two men abandon the Peugeot. She called gardaí. Mr Sammon said forensic evidence linked the accused to the vehicle.
The jury will hear that a brown paper bag containing a balaclava, a gun, a tea towel and gloves was found in the Peugeot. Mr Sammon said the accused man’s fingerprints were found on the bag and DNA evidence linked Mr White to the handles of the bag.
The jury will hear that two gloves were found along Furry Park Road, both containing DNA evidence which can be linked to the accused man. Fibres found on the discarded gloves will also be shown to match fibres in the abandoned car.
A container of petrol was found in the abandoned car. Mr Sammon said the inference could be drawn that there had been an intention to burn the car and destroy the evidence it contained. The prosecution would also show that bullet casings found at the scene of Mr Roche’s death could be linked to the Glock semi- automatic pistol found in the Peugeot, he said.
Mr Sammon said that while there was no witness to the shooting, the jury would see a video from a camcorder taken by an American tourist on a passing bus. The driver of the car that carried Mr Roche will not give evidence.
The trial continues tomorrow morning.