Courts / Limerick / Report

Murder accused told daughter he had fought with deceased, trial hears

Date
2017-01-31

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

In a Limerick murder trial, 57‑year‑old Arnis Labunskis is charged with killing his 39‑year‑old flatmate, Dainius Burba, on 21 or 22 April 2015. Labunskis pleaded not guilty. During the opening speech, the prosecution presented evidence that Labunskis had told his daughter that he had fought with Burba and that she had seen blood on his clothing. The daughter drove him to her brother's house, where the brother also noticed blood on Labunskis's shoes. A man was sent to check the flat, and Labunskis allowed him in, where he saw blood on the wall and on Labunskis's hoodie and was shown Burba's body. Labunskis later told gardai he had returned home to find Burba badly injured, was alarmed by possible intruders, and had taken a table leg to defend himself. The prosecution suggested the table leg could be the murder weapon, a point for the jury to consider.