Accused is "deliberate killer", prosecution tell jury

A prosecution barrister has told jurors at the Central Criminal Court that there is no credible basis for a provocation defence in the trial of a man accused of murder in Longford. Rihards Lavickis, aged 25 of Annaly Court, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of Akadiusz Czajkowski on November 1st, 2016 at Townspark. The State rejected the manslaughter plea, and the case proceeded to trial. Patrick McGrath SC argued that the accused deliberately killed Mr Czajkowski with a knife and that the three-and-a-half hour gap between discovering his broken windows and the fatal stabbing demonstrated calculated behaviour rather than a sudden loss of control. The defence counsel contended that his client, who admits responsibility, was provoked by ongoing harassment and a assault by the deceased. Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh will charge the jury on Tuesday.