A murder accused's psychiatrist has told the Central Criminal Court that the defendant may have had diminished responsibility but he was not insane at the time of the killing.
Eric Locke is charged with murdering 31-year-old Sonia Blount in a room at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght in Dublin on 16 February 2014.
The 35-year-old, with an address at St John's Park East in Clondalkin, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty, but admits causing the death of Ms Blount, who was found strangled and suffocated.
Mr Locke used a fake Facebook profile to meet the woman, whom he had already briefly dated.
Dr Richard Bunn said that while Mr Locke had a mental health illness at the time, it was not sufficient that he was not responsible for the death or that he did not know it was wrong or could not stop.
However, Dr Bunn said Mr Locke did fulfil the criteria for diminished responsibility.
Under cross-examination by prosecuting counsel Remy Farrell, Dr Bunn agreed he was at least the fourth psychiatrist for the defence.
Dr Bunn examined Mr Locke last month, three years after the victim died.
Dr Bunn agreed that Mr Locke was well able to deceive and lie to get what he wanted.
Dr Bunn said that when he examined Eric Locke in prison in April 2017, the defendant said he was very low.
He was at risk of suicide and was wearing a poncho while housed in a padded cell.
The psychiatrist said Mr Locke had been dealing with depression for 12 years and he was depressed in the run up to Ms Blount's death.
He was drinking one and a half bottles of Jack Daniels every day, had lost weight and had difficulty sleeping.
Mr Locke said he was gripped with tortuous pain and felt the need to explain this to the victim.
His final act would be for her to listen to his feelings, he said.
One 16 February 2014, he went to a nearby park to kill himself after their meeting in the hotel but he could not continue when he thought of his family.
Under cross-examination by prosecuting counsel Remy Farrell, Dr Bunn said it was possible that Eric Locke was a compulsive liar but he did not have any evidence to suggest that.
Remy Farrell asked if the number of times Eric Locke said he had tried to kill himself was growing all the time.
Dr Bunn said it appeared to be inconsistent.
Mr Farrell also suggested that three years after the killing, Mr Locke had used language that was consistent with the insanity defence.
Dr Bunn agreed that the language was a bit suggestive.
The trial continues tomorrow.
