Dariusz Weckowicz pleads not guilty to murder in Letterkenny

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Dariusz Weckowicz has pleaded not guilty to murder at the Central Criminal Court. He and Krzystof Grzegorski are accused of murdering Bogdan Michalkiewicz at his home in Westside, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, on 13 May 2013. The proceedings were reported on 23 June 2016.

Mr Grzegorski has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State did not accept his plea.

Dr Alan McGee of Forensic Science Ireland told prosecuting counsel Alex Owens SC that he examined shoes, jeans and a jacket Mr Weckowicz gave to gardai on 17 May 2013. Blood samples from the right shoe, jeans and jacket matched Mr Michalkiewicz’s DNA. Dr McGee said the jacket’s blood patterns suggested Mr Weckowicz was within two metres of Mr Michalkiewicz while he was still actively bleeding.

Speaking to defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC, Dr McGee agreed the evidence only showed Mr Weckowicz was in the room. Mr Grehan said Mr Michalkiewicz had suffered 17 knife wounds, including a cut throat, and asked whether the bloodstains suggested Mr Weckowicz inflicted the injuries. Dr McGee replied: “I could not rule anything in or out.” Asked whether Mr Weckowicz could have been “present but passed out”, he replied: “I can't say.”

John McCullough of Forensic Science Ireland said he examined two cushions and a blanket bearing bloody footprints. He found two distinct prints, neither of which matched Mr Weckowicz’s shoes.

The trial was continuing before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.