Courts / Dublin / Report

Murder accused a 'two-bit car thief' and 'no James Bond', his defence tell trial

Date
2020-07-31

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A UK man accused of murdering Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin is described by his defence as a 'two-bit car thief' and 'no James Bond', according to the Special Criminal Court. David Hunter, a Liverpool native with an address in London, is pleading not guilty to the murder of Mr Barr (35) at the pub in Summerhill on the night of April 25, 2016. The defence closed its case by asserting that the defendant could not 'logically' have been the killer. Mixed DNA profiles were found on a ski-mask and rubber mask recovered from a car allegedly used in the killing, with the major contributor matching Mr Hunter's DNA. However, Mr Hunter stated to gardaí that he had left the ski-mask in a car in Dublin two months before the shooting and had not seen it again. Defence barrister Ms Roisín Lacey SC argued that the prosecution cannot prove Mr Hunter wore the ski-mask underneath the rubber mask at the shooting and that there is a reasonable doubt. She also highlighted that Mr Hunter's admission to gardaí of stealing cars 'painted him in a bad light' and that he was in a 'narcotic and alcoholic haze' at the time of the shooting. Ms Lacey submitted that Mr Hunter could not have been the driver of the getaway vehicle or the convicted male in the back of the vehicle, and that he had to be the front passenger who emerged without any head covering. She concluded that Mr Hunter 'is not a murderer and he cannot logically be the murderer on the evidence in the case.' Mr Justice Owens adjourned the case to September 11 for judgement and remanded Mr Hunter in custody.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused a 'two-bit car thief' and 'no James Bond', his defence tell trial. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

April 25, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
September 11 Adjournment
2020-07-31 Publication

Case subjects

James Bond

Defendant

Outcome: He's not a murderer and he cannot logically be the murderer on the evidence in the case." Mr Justice Owens adjourned the case to September 11 for judgement and remanded Mr Hunter in custody.