A DUBLINER has gone on trial for the murder of a man in Birmingham on December 10th, 2001.
Jason Brady (28), formerly of Cushlawn Drive, Tallaght, is accused of reversing a car over Charles Tandy, a grandfather who chased Brady when he stole a laptop. The accused yesterday admitted assault, burglary and manslaughter but denies murdering Mr Tandy.
A European arrest warrant for Mr Brady was issued in July 2006 after he had been the subject of proceedings in Ireland.
Mr Brady is disabled and uses a wheelchair due to an unrelated road accident. Lawyers for Mr Brady contested extradition to Britain in the High Court in 2007 on the basis their client was terrified his medical needs might not be met in a British prison.
The judge found that, while Mr Brady was entitled to every sympathy for his condition, he was satisfied there was no basis on health grounds to refuse the order for his surrender and he was extradited in January of last year.
Opening the case for the prosecution yesterday, Michael Burrows QC said Mr Brady accepted that he was at the wheel of the car, but denied intending to kill or cause serious injury.
The jury were told by Mr Burrows that Mr Brady was chased into a car park at a technical college in Birmingham, after being challenged as he stole a laptop computer.
Mr Burrows said the defendant was linked to the crime by fingerprints found in the stolen Toyota, as well as by DNA evidence found in a shoe left at the scene.
The lawyer alleged that Mr Brady threatened to stab those chasing him before getting into the Toyota and reversing it, knocking Mr Tandy, a training instructor at the centre, and another member of staff to the ground.
The car, which had false registration plates, was later found abandoned in a nearby street and Mr Tandy (56), died shortly before arrival at hospital of multiple injuries, including numerous fractures.
The trial, which is expected to last for up to three weeks, was adjourned until Wednesday.