THE halting voice of a murder defendant, Mr Richard Close, held a Belfast court in silence yesterday as he described how he had accidentally killed Mrs Daphne Taylor more than a year ago. The retired school teacher (59) died from a stab wound to the neck while she walked her dog along a seaside path in Co Down.
Mr Close (24), from Ballymaconnell Road, Bangor, has denied the murder of Mrs Taylor on December 1st, 1994.
The Crown Court jury had already heard a transcript of the interview with police after Mr Close was arrested six weeks after the woman's death. But the audio recording was played at the defence's request.
During the interview Mr Close said he had gone to the rocks at Ballymacormick Point to commit suicide. The woman arrived and tried to take the knife from him. He said they had struggled and when they fell to the ground the knife had gone into Mrs Taylor's neck.
During the interview the accused denied intending to stab Mrs Taylor but agreed he was responsible for her injuries and death.
Later a Bangor GP gave evidence that after he had examined Mr Close at Newtownards RUC station he had advised the custody officer to keep a close watch on him. "He appeared to be anxious and depressed and it had come to my knowledge that he had attempted suicide on previous occasions."
The doctor said Mr Close later, said "I will not stand trial. I'd know how to commit suicide."
Yesterday morning the jury visited the spot where Mrs Taylor died. The seven women and five men spent nearly an hour in torrential rain inspecting the scene, accompanied by the trial judge Mr Justice McCollum, the accused man, who was hand cuffed to a prison officer, prosecution and defence lawyers and court officials.
The visit took place exactly year after Mr Close took police to, the scene and described what had happened.
Evidence in the prosecution case has now concluded. The trial will continue on Monday.