Courts / Cavan / Report

Garda tells trial he thought admission to killing was "a joke"

Date
2019-07-01

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Cavan

County
Cavan

Summary

A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that the accused man handed himself in to gardaí in Cork on 3 January 2018, three days after the fatal stabbing of his housemate in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan. Garda Razvan Ghetau testified that when the man entered Anglesea Garda Station stating he had killed his friend, the officer initially believed it was a jest. The witness said the accused repeated his statement and appeared serious, with his hands positioned as though requesting arrest. Inspector John Callinan outlined the subsequent interviews conducted in Cavan. The accused, Tomasz Paszkiewicz (39), explained he had worked at a meat processing facility since 2009, boning cattle heads. When shown a knife recovered from the scene bearing his employee number, he identified it as his work knife, which he had brought home a year prior. Questioned about his knife proficiency, he acknowledged developing considerable skill over nine years. Mr Paszkiewicz has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of Marek Swider (40).

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Garda tells trial he thought admission to killing was "a joke". Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of fellow Polish man Marek Swider (40) at their home on Dublin Street, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan on January 1, 2018. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 1, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
3rd January Incident
New Year's Eve Other
2019-07-01 Publication

Why: The accused had explained that he had worked at Liffey Meats in Ballyjamesduff since 2009. CNI source report

Case subjects

Tomasz Paszkiewicz

Accused

Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of fellow Polish man Marek Swider (40) at their home on Dublin Street, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan on January 1, 2018 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty