A man apologised to the family of his victim after admitting stabbing him to death, a murder trial jury in the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Mr David Watson was attacked, robbed and stabbed in the heart, causing his death, when he attempted to recover equipment being stolen from his employers' van after he had stalled at traffic lights outside a pub at closing time.
Mr Alan Lyons (19) of Bonham Street, Dublin, denies the murder of Mr Watson (21), of James's Court, Echlin Street, Dublin, on Thomas Street in the city on April 25th, 1998.
Reading from Garda notes, Det Sgt John Doyle, told the court the accused had said: "I'm very sorry for the bloke I stabbed. I'm very sorry to his family. I hope it wasn't the stab wound that killed him."
Ms Maureen Clarke SC, prosecuting, told the jury that a drunken melee broke out outside a Dublin pub at closing time. It involved the deceased man and others who believed him to be an "easy mugging". Mr Watson had been a fit man and fought off his attackers before being stabbed, she said.
Mr Watson had slumped at the wheel outside a Thomas Street pub as his van waited at traffic lights. Onlookers woke him and got him to move his van, but he fell asleep again. Mr Lyons then "put his hand inside his pocket to see what he could steal and there were others in the back of the van to see what they could steal."
Mr Watson woke up and got out of the van to rescue his employer's equipment, and a drunken melee ensued, said Ms Clarke.
Onlookers helped themselves to the equipment while four or five others attacked him. Vandals slashed the van's tyres and Mr Watson fell back with a thud, she said.
Mr Lyons allegedly told gardai that after the fight he picked up a knife lying on the road, held it before the deceased man and said: "F**k off, I'll stab you," adding, "I was calling his bluff."
Det Sgt Doyle said that Mr Lyons pointed the knife at Mr Watson to force him to "keep his distance". Mr Watson then went for Mr Lyons, who put his arm out straight and stabbed him.
The State Pathologist, Professor John Harbison, told the court that Mr Watson suffered a total of 18 wounds and bruises distributed mostly over his head and arms. He said Mr Watson was a healthy man at the time of his death and that he had died as a result of one fatal stab wound to the pulmonary artery, into the heart and left lung, causing internal bleeding.
The trial before Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan will continue on Monday.