Man accused of father's murder 'hijacked car' after stabbing, trial told

Witnesses gave evidence to the Central Criminal Court yesterday morning in the trial of 33-year-old David Fortune.

Gerard Fortune was stabbed in the neck on August 19, 2018 after watching the All-Ireland final in his home in Rutland Grove, Crumlin.

David Fortune, of the same address, has pleaded not guilty to his murder there.

Tablets

A witness previously told the court that the accused caused the fatal stab wound after consuming a number of blue tablets.

Another witness testified that he then left the house through the front window.

Motorist Geraldine Brady testified yesterday that she was sitting, stopped in her red Toyota Yaris, on Rutland Grove that evening.

She told Sean Gillane, prosecuting, that she was in the driver's seat when a man opened the door and shouted at her to get out.

She said she was thrown to the ground, was furious and tried to wrestle with him.

"His eyes were so black," she said. "I never saw a face like that before."

She added that Fortune drove off with the driver's door still open. Ms Brady then called the gardaí.

Under cross-examination by Michael Bowman, defending, she agreed that the man had driven off "like a lunatic".

Counsel told her that his client had asked him to apologise to her on his behalf.

The court also heard from a number of nurses who were working in James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown that night.

Annah Machimbidza testified that she saw a man running in to the hospital, "looking back, checking was someone following".

"I asked what was wrong. I held him by the hand to look for the hospital tag," she said.

She explained that patients sometimes absconded.

Ms Machimbidza said that he kept telling her: "You've no conscience. You don't know what's happening. My own father is trying to kill me."

She said he lifted up his shirt and showed her a graze.

Ms Machimbidza said he was wearing one shoe and carrying the other, and was trying to find somewhere to hide.

It was accepted that the man involved in both incidents was David Fortune.

The trial continues.