A Lithuanian man who stabbed a co-worker in the chest with a filleting knife following a fight at a Co Monaghan poultry processing factory has been acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court.
Algimantas Stankavicius (50), Bridge Street, Cootehill, Co Cavan, had previously been jailed for life for the murder of fellow national Arunas Petrauskas, Main Street, Cootehill, in Dyan, Co Monaghan, on February 23rd, 2002.
However, the Court of Criminal Appeal overturned this conviction. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the start of his retrial.
Last night the jury took just under four hours to return its 10 to 2 verdict. Mr Justice Barry White said Stankavicius would be sentenced on January 11th.
During the trial the jury heard Stankavicius got involved in a fight with Mr Petrauskas outside the factory as they were leaving, following a 12-hour shift.
Vida Petrauskiene said Stankavicius had insulted her husband and claimed he could not stand up for himself, to which Mr Petrauskas replied he would prove that he could.
Her husband waited for Stankavicius to strike the first blow before hitting him back in the face.
Stankavicius told gardaí he had argued with the victim in the past about work practices at the factory and said Mr Petrauskas said he did less work, but was paid the same money.
On the evening of the killing, he said he was punched in the nose by Mr Petrauskas and his face was covered in blood. He ran into the factory and returned to the corridor with a knife.
He told gardaí: "I didn't intend to kill him, I was afraid he would kill me. I was afraid of him."
Anthony Sammon SC, prosecuting, claimed Stankavicius went into the gent's locker room to get the weapon.
Two witnesses said they saw him go in that direction and bloodstains matching his were found on the floor of this room. However Stankavicius told gardaí he found the knife on the canteen table, after he was chased there by Mr Petrauskas.
He claimed the stabbing took place after the victim attempted to kick and punch him at the same time, before he slipped and fell on to the knife.
State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy said the wound to Mr Petrauskas's chest was 9.2cm deep and he might not have collapsed immediately, but when his blood circulation dropped to a dangerous level.
The major blood vessel that drains blood from the head and neck had been punctured and, despite what Dr Cassidy described as "heroic" efforts made to resuscitate him, Mr Petrauskas died later in Cavan General Hospital.
His widow was in court for the trial hearing, accompanied by an interpreter.
She had earlier given evidence of watching the colour drain from her husband's face before she discovered blood on his clothing and saw a "hole from stabbing" in his chest.