A man accused of murdering a 28-year-old woman at a flat in Dublin city just over a year ago has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court.
44-year-old Clive Butcher, who was originally from the UK but with an address at Ranelagh Road in Dublin, admits manslaughter but denies murdering Rebecca Hoban on 17 December 2008 at a flat in Ranelagh.
Ms Hoban died after being stabbed a number of times.
Counsel for the prosecution Bernard Condon told the jury that the victim had gotten into difficulties, including drugs.
He said she had been ‘knocking around’ with Mr Butcher for a year before she was killed.
On the night she died, the accused had called emergency services and Ms Hoban was found dead with six stab wounds to her back, neck and shoulders.
Mr Condon told the jury that Mr Butcher was the only other person in the flat at the time.
It was known that he unlawfully killed Ms Hoban but the issue to be decided was whether or not he was guilty of murder.
The trial is expected to last just over a week.
The jury was told it will see CCTV footage of the accused man and the victim returning to his flat on Ranelagh Road on the night of Ms Hoban's death.
It will also hear a recording of the 999 call made by Mr Butcher and it will hear evidence from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis about the six stab wounds found on Ms Hoban's back, neck and shoulders.
The jury will also be shown two knives found at the scene.
