An Irishman accused of murder, Mr Trevor Stokes, slept with a steak knife and recited lines from a movie about evil spirits, an Australian court heard yesterday.
The man accused of murdering a 20-year-old Australian, Mr Greg Bebensee, took the steak knife into his sleeping bag while camping, Darwin Supreme Court was told. Mr Stokes's camping friend, Mr Lee McLaughlin (26), from Ballymena, Co Antrim, told police of the alleged incident and of fears that he, too, would be killed, the court heard.
But Mr Jon Tippitt, defending, put it to Mr McLaughlin that the steak knife he told police about had not been purchased when the alleged incident took place. Mr McLaughlin insisted his police statement was true.
A claim by Mr McLaughlin that he feared his companion would kill him after they had travelled south from Darwin following the murder was also read to the court. The prosecution's key witness told police he believed he "wouldn't have got back" from a night out unless a car had stopped to give them a lift. He alleged his friend began repeating lines from a film about evil spirits that they had watched together.
The court heard how actors in The Fallen, which stars Denzil Washington, repeat the mantra: "Time is on my side" as they are infected by an evil spirit.
Mr McLaughlin claims Mr Stokes confessed the murder to him.
Mr Trevor Stokes (26), from Naas, Co Kildare, faces life in jail without parole if convicted of murder. The trial continues.