Days before a man was fatally stabbed he was seen arguing with another man, a witness told the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
Mr John Paul Hayes (22), of Belcamp Green, Coolock, Dublin has denied that on June 13th 1999 he murdered Mr Francis Moore (33), at his home in Coultry Road, Ballymun, Dublin.
Giving evidence, a former neighbour of the accused and the deceased, Mr Alan Daly, told the court he had seen Mr Moore arguing with a man two days before the lethal stabbing but that man was not the accused.
Mr Daly told the court that Mr Moore "looked terrified" of the man who was "not John Paul". Mr Daly said: "It was all drug trouble, I think."
Previously the court heard that the accused had been staying at the flat where his sister and her boyfriend, Mr Moore, had been living. On the night of his death Mr Moore and the accused shared four bags of heroin between them but a row developed over the fifth bag. The accused claims the deceased attacked him with a hatchet, found later at the scene. Mr Hayes admits stabbing Mr Moore a number of times with a knife he found in his pocket, which he claims may have been put there by the deceased, who often wore the accused's clothes.
The defence case is that another man subsequently entered the apartment and stabbed Mr Moore.
Summing up for the prosecution, before a jury of seven women and five men and Mr Justice Roderick Murphy, will begin today.
Businessman to go on trial A Dublin businessman is to go on trial before Mr Justice Carney at the Central Criminal Court for allegedly refusing to pay the wages of an employee on jury service.
Mr Eugene Casey, of Casey Doors, Baldoyle Industrial Estate, was arrested by gardai on a warrant issued by Mr Justice Carney. Mr Casey denied the allegation when he appeared before Mr Justice Carney.
Mr Justice Carney directed that the matter be dealt with by summary trial before him next Friday.