Marta Herda murder trial hears of phone argument

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

Marta Herda’s murder trial heard evidence from a witness who described a woman apparently arguing by phone in a car. The proceedings were reported on 6 July 2016. Marta Herda is accused of deliberately driving a car carrying her colleague Csaba Orsas into the sea at South Quay, Arklow, on 26 March 2013.

The prosecution’s case is that Marta Herda intentionally crashed through a barrier with Csaba Orsas in the passenger seat, knowing he could not swim.

Paul Hickey said he was on his way to work at around 5.20am that morning when he saw a car fitting the description of Marta Herda’s Volkswagen Passat. He said a woman at the wheel seemed to be arguing with someone over the phone. The jury also heard that Marta Herda had two phones and that calls and texts were exchanged between her and Csaba Orsas during the preceding 48 hours. The last recorded call lasted two minutes and occurred less than half an hour before the car entered the water.

The report said the trial was due to continue the following day. It reported no verdict or sentence.