Thomas O'Connor denies murdering friend with rock

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

Thomas O'Connor has gone on trial accused of murdering his friend John O'Brien with a rock at Farrankelly Road in Delgany on the evening of 4 June 2010. He denies murder and admits hitting John O'Brien with a rock. The proceedings were reported on 15 November 2011.

The State said that, when charged with murder, Thomas O'Connor replied: "I didn't mean to kill him." It said there would be evidence that John O'Brien died from head injuries caused by blunt-force trauma.

Prosecution witness Ashley Carroll, who stopped at the scene, gave evidence on the afternoon of 15 November 2011. She said she was shocked by how calm Thomas O'Connor was when he indicated the person lying on the road. She also said he seemed "stone-cold sober" and "smirked and sniggered" when he told her he was going home.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.