A French woman who was stabbed in the shoulder and had her throat cut during an attempted robbery at her Dublin apartment is "extremely lucky to have survived".
She pretended to be dead before her attacker dragged her under the stairs, a trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard.
Lithuanian man Aleksejus Belousovas (29), North Circular Road, Dublin, yesterday denied attempting to murder Barbara Riouall at her apartment in the Weavers, Bertram Court, Dublin, on May 10th, 2005.
However, he admitted charges of attempting to rob and intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Riouall who was studying marketing at Dublin Business School. She had to undergo emergency surgery at St James's Hospital to save her life.
Opening the case for the prosecution, George Birmingham SC told the jury that Ms Riouall (24), who is from Marseilles, had gone to college that day and returned home to her apartment after picking up some shopping on Moore Street.
She was inside the complex and in the act of putting her key in her door when she noticed a reflection in the glass behind her. A man, whom the defence admits was Mr Belousovas, took a knife from a shoulder bag and held it to her throat.
Mr Birmingham said this was a "shocking experience" for Ms Riouall.
She is expected to give evidence today and the trial is expected to last two to three days.