A Dublin man has gone on trial for killing another by causing him to fall under a bus two years ago.
Edward Connors (30) of no fixed abode and formerly of Bearna Park in Sandyford has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully killing Eoghan Dudley (28) on Dawson Street on December 6th, 2012.
Tom O'Connell SC, prosecuting, opened the case before a jury this morning, telling it that this is a case of “assault manslaughter” and that the prosecution say there is no element of self-defence.
Mr. Connors is deaf and will require the use of sign language interpreters throughout the trial. Speaking very slowly to accommodate the interpreters, Mr. O'Connell briefly outlined the prosecution case.
He said that at around 5:30pm in the evening on Dawson Street in Dublin city centre, Mr. Connors punched Mr. Dudley - either to the head or to the chest. He said this caused him to fall backwards and underneath a bus which was travelling into the city centre.
The left rear wheel went over Mr. Dudley’s head, neck and chest area, killing him instantly.
Counsel said that the accused did not intend to kill Mr. Dudley but that he would still be alive if he did not punch him.
He said that both the accused and the deceased were heroin users and that traces of the heroin, methadone and cannabis were found in Mr. Dudley’s blood during a post-mortem.
Counsel also said that a friend of Mr. Connors will tell the jury that he and the accused were using methdone and heroin that day.
The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of six men and six women. There are over 120 witnesses listed and the trial is set to run for three weeks.
