Claim Marta Herda sought to murder man ‘doesn’t make sense’

The lawyer for a woman accused of murdering her colleague by driving him into a harbour, where he drowned, has said that if she had done so deliberately it would be suicide.

Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC was giving his closing speech to a jury at the Central Criminal Court this morning.

Marta Herda of Pairc Na Saile, Emoclew Road, Arklow, Co Wicklow is charged with the murder of 31-year-old Csaba Orsos on March 26th, 2013.

The 29-year-old Polish waitress has pleaded not guilty to murdering the Hungarian at South Quay, Arklow.

Both had been in Ms Herda’s car when it went into the water that morning. Ms Herda escaped at the harbour but Mr Orsos’ body was found on a nearby beach later that day.

They had worked together, he was in love with her, but she didn’t feel the same way. She told gardaí he had spent two years following her, phoning her and sending her messages.

Mr O Lideadha said that the prosecution case was completely unsustainable and didn’t make any sense. He said there had been a tendency by the prosecution to run with a presumption of guilt.

He said that something amazing had happened in the State’s closing speech by Brendan Grehan SC.

“He said to you that some of you might find it fanciful or far fetched that Marta Herda deliberately drove into that water because she had the window open and could swim,” he said.

Mr O Lideadha said it was a true and important concession.

“That’s why I’m happy to allow you to apply your gut here. It just doesn’t make sense,” he said.

He noted that the prosecution then said that she might have wanted to commit suicide.

“I find this a truly amazing proposition because that’s the defence case, that how could she have done this because it would be committing suicide,” he said.

The barrister will continue his speech this afternoon.