A CENTRAL Criminal Court jury was told if ever there was a case of murder, the stabbing of two Polish men outside their home was it.
John O’Kelly SC was giving the closing speech for the prosecution in the trial of two men charged with murdering mechanics Pawel Kalite (28) and Marius Szwajkos (27). The pair died after being stabbed through their skulls with a screw driver on Benbulben Road, Drimnagh, on February 23rd, 2008.
David Curran (19) of Lissadel Green, Drimnagh, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Seán Keogh (21) of Vincent Street West, Inchicore, pleaded not guilty to the double murder.
“I’m asking you to bring in a verdict of guilty against both men on both charges,” said Mr O’Kelly. Both defendants did what they set out to do, he said: attack the mechanics. “You have the clear admission from David Curran that he stabbed these men in the head,” he said. “Seán Keogh was part of the common design.”
Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha SC, defending Curran, said it would be fairer if we had a law in Ireland that allowed for different degrees of manslaughter and murder.
He said manslaughter ranged from the lowest form where there’s no intent to cause serious harm. “This is at the highest range because it involves intent, voluntary intoxication and the vicious killing of two human beings,” he said of the case. “They should have a law to say so.” However no such law exists in Ireland, he said.
“That’s why I have to ask you to apply a law that many people think makes it too easy for accused people,” he said, referring to the defence of provocation.
Mr Ó Lideadha will conclude his closing on Tuesday. The jury will also hear from Seán Keogh’s legal team and judge Liam McKechnie.
The Irish Times
