EVIDENCE HAS concluded in the trial of a man who killed his girlfriend in their apartment by strangling her last year.
Stephen Carney (33) admits killing Amanda Jenkins but denies murdering her at Anna Livia Apartments, James's Street, Dublin, on a date between October 5th and 6th, 2007.
Closing speeches will be heard this morning before the jury begins its deliberations. The jury has heard that Mr Carney strangled Ms Jenkins following a row over the smell of cannabis in their home on a Friday night.
The jury heard he then went drinking and left the 27-year-old's body in the flat until Sunday morning when he telephoned gardaí. Yesterday, prosecuting counsel Cormac Quinn read into evidence memos of interviews conducted with the accused at Kilmainham Garda station on Sunday and Monday October 7th and 8th, 2007.
Mr Carney told gardaí that he had been drinking during the day and arrived home in the evening to find that Ms Jenkins had been smoking cannabis in the flat. He said he did not object to the drug but was annoyed that the room was smoky and that she had not opened a window or door.
He said she was sitting on the sofa and they began roaring at each other. He put his head down close to her and she hit him with an open hand across the face. He said he "just lost it" and grabbed her by the throat. He added, "I think my mind just went blank. I just lost it. I just put my hands around her neck".
Gardaí asked if Ms Jenkins had fought back when he grabbed her and he said, "I think so, yeah".
He said her face turned blue and he realised she was in trouble when she did not wake up.
He told gardaí that he tried to shake her awake but realised she was dead. He said he did not mean to kill her, only to frighten her.
Det Garda David Ennis agreed with defence counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, that Mr Carney answered all questions "willingly and in a spirit of co-operation".
The hearing continues.