Did you intend to stab him? No, definitely not...
JURY’S TOLD OF FATAL CHRISTMAS EVE KNIFING FROM THE ACCUSED
Reporter MURDER accused Brian Cahill admitted taking a teenager’s life on Christmas Eve but claimed it was an accident.
Prosecutors say he deliberately stabbed Owen Kerry, 19, in the tummy at a social club in Cramlington, Northumberland.
Giving evidence at his murder trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Cahill claimed he had been pushed to the ground, where he said he found an object he later realised was a knife.
Claiming he felt threatened, he said he pushed out, with the object in his hand, but didn’t realise until later he may have stabbed Owen.
Prosecutors say in fact he had the knife down his sock and pulled it out and murdered Owen in a joint attack with his girlfriend, Lyndsey Harper. Both deny murder.
Cahill took to the witness box for the first time yesterday afternoon.
He said earlier on Christmas Eve he had been to Cramlington shopping centre and then he and Harper went out to The Blagdon pub, followed by The Green and then on to Cramlington Working Mens Club.
He said he was feeling “merry” from drinking and there was no trouble to begin with.
But, he said, as he was coming back from the toilets, he became aware of people arguing and went to usher Harper away.
Cahill said he was not aware of pushing a young woman who was there but said he was suddenly pushed to the ground.
He told the court: “I got pushed over from the side. There were three lads. I went down on my back.”
He said he felt threatened and frightened after being pushed over and claimed he found something on the floor which he later realised was a knife.
He said: “I saw something on the ground. It was a knife. I picked it up as I was getting to my feet. As I was getting to my feet somebody leaned over me so I pushed out with my hands. I pushed out because I had just been pushed and then somebody was coming towards me.”
He added: “I had the knife in my right hand. The person I pushed turned and went.
“I picked our coats up and phones and got Lyndsey and went.”
Peter Makepeace QC, for Cahill, asked: “When you pushed out did you intend to stab him?” Cahill: “Definitely not.”
Mr Makepeace asked: “Were you thinking of using the knife as a weapon at all?” Cahill: “No.”
He said he didn’t realise the knife had gone into Owen at first although when Cahill got home he suspected it may have done “because when I got the knife out of my pocket the blade was open”.
Asked why he hid the knife afterwards, he said: “Because I didn’t know if I did actually stab him or not, so I just wanted rid of it.”
Cahill said he put his clothing in the sink with washing liquid when he got home. Asked why, he said: “Just out of panic, in case there was any blood in case I did stab him.”
Mr Makepeace asked: “Did you intend to stab him?” Cahill replied: “No.”
Mr Makepeace: “Did you intend to cause really serious harm?’ Cahill: “No.”
Mr Makepeace: “Did you intend to kill him?” Cahill: “No.”
Asked about the account he gave to police in interview, Cahill admitted he lied. He said: “Because I realised how serious it was. I didn’t know what to say really. It’s a scary thought, realising someone has died at your hands.”
Quizzed further about pushing out with the knife in his hand, Cahill said: “I thought he was going to punch me so I pushed out.”
Prosecutor Andrew Robertson QC, cross-examining, asked: “Do you agree last Christmas Eve you killed Owen Kerry with a knife?” Cahill: replied: “I do yeah.”
Mr Robertson, who reminded Cahill the wound was 25mm deeper than the blade is long, asked: “And you say this was all a dreadful accident?” Cahill replied: “Yes.”
Cahill said he didn’t realise the object he says he found on the floor and had in his hand when he pushed out was a knife until he left the club.
Prosecutors say Owen was attacked at Cramlington Working Men’s Club on the night of December 24 and died around 12.20am on Christmas morning.
Cahill, 35, of Northern Terrace, Dudley and Harper, 36, of Queens Gardens, Annitsford, both North Tyneside, deny murder. Harper further denies the alternative charge attempting to cause GBH with intent and performing acts intending to pervert the course of justice. She admits affray. The trial continues.