Woman gives evidence on 'death threat'

An alleged victim of a threat to kill has told a court she was surprised to see gardaí arrive at her house after she had a "normal…

An alleged victim of a threat to kill has told a court she was surprised to see gardaí arrive at her house after she had a "normal conversation" with her brother, the accused, about photographs of his children.

Rawaa Hassan said that there was no need for the gardaí and she hadn't called them.

She was giving evidence in the trial of Hassan Hassan (38) of Rivervalley Close, Swords, who has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making a threat to kill or cause her serious harm at Roselawn Crescent, Castleknock on August 9 th2005.

Ms Hassan told prosecuting counsel that her brother had come to her home to ask her about photographs.

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Her teenage daughter thought something was wrong because they were speaking loudly but she told the court that she and her brother were speaking in arabic and they always spoke loudly in their native language.

Ms Hassan said that her daughter doesn't understand arabic and misunderstood the situation.

The witness said she "couldn't especially remember the conversation" but when asked by counsel if it was happy or angry she said "there was nothing at all about it, it was just normal".

She couldn't remember how long her brother stayed because it was a long time ago. She said her brother took the pictures of his children and left the house.

When asked how she felt after her brother left, she replied that she felt normal.

Earlier, the court heard it would be the prosecution's case that Mr Hassan called to his sister's home and an argument broke out between the two over photographs and video recordings of his children.

Mr Hassan allegedly forced his sister's husband and daughter out of the room and when left alone with his sister threatened to kill her and burn down her house.

Counsel said it "was a serious threat" that left the family in a state of "extreme fear" and they called the gardaí.

The prosecution told the jury it does not have to prove that Mr Hassan intended to carry out his threats, but only that he made them and that he intended her to believe he would carry them out.