Man accused of killing pensioner refused to offer a cause to Gardaí, court docket hears

A MAN ACCUSED of murdering a pensioner in her own residence informed gardai that he had killed the lady however refused to say why, telling detectives it was to do with “no one; just me, God and that woman”.

When requested by gardai why he couldn’t inform them what he did to 71-year-old Ann Butler, Trevor Rowe replied: “because it’s disgusting,” his trial has heard.

Mr Rowe additionally informed officers that he was going to return to Ann Butler’s home “to cut her up and bury her legs one place and bury her arms somewhere else” however as a substitute made nameless telephone calls to gardai so they may discover her physique, his Central Criminal Court trial has heard.

When gardai requested the accused if he accepted that he had killed Ms Butler, he replied: “Yes, I did alright. I accepted I killed a woman, that is all I’m going to say.”

Mr Rowe (30), with an deal with at Abbey Street, Kilkenny has pleaded not responsible to murdering 71-year-old Ms Butler at her dwelling at Maudlin Street, Kilkenny on 20 March 2020.

In his first interview, Mr Rowe informed gardai that he had made nameless telephone calls to gardai as a result of he simply wished “the woman found” and was ashamed of what he had completed. The court docket has heard proof that on 25 March 2020, 999 calls have been made, together with one the place a male stated he murdered somebody and that the placement of the physique was on Maudlin Street in Kilkenny.

Today, Detective Sergeant Brian Sheeran, informed Garrett McCormack BL, prosecuting, that the third of 4 interviews befell with Mr Rowe in Kilkenny Garda Station on March 26.

At the outset of the third interview, Mr Rowe accepted that when gardai referred to as to his home the day before today, he stated: “I killed a woman. I murdered a woman. I slit her throat and stuck a knife in her head”.

Gardai put it to the accused that they “honestly did not believe” him on the time and requested Mr Rowe why he thought this was. “Because you know me, a lot of people wouldn’t believe I would do something like that cause I’m not that type of person,” he replied.

“I’d nearly help an old person with the shopping before I’d do something so stupid, devious, horrible and inhumane,” he added.

“I’m going to be sitting up in prison doing life,” stated Mr Rowe, including that he already knew “lifers” in jail, “loads of them”.

When gardai requested Mr Rowe if he accepted he had killed Ms Butler, the accused stated: “Yes, I did alright. I accepted I killed a woman; that is all I’m going to say”.

“I know she is dead and I can’t bring her back and I’m sorry for that but I can’t bring her back,” continued Mr Rowe.

When gardai put it to Mr Rowe that they have been making an attempt to ascertain why Ms Butler had died, the accused stated “but you’re going to get when get autopsy [sic]“. “You don’t need me to specifically tell you what you are going to know in a day or two,” he added.

Gardai informed the accused that they didn’t know why he had murdered Ms Butler. “You don’t have to know cause it’s nothing to do with you; plain and simple,” he stated.

Detectives requested the defendant who had it to do with. “No one, just me, God and that woman,” he replied.

The officers stated they needed to set up why Ms Butler died the way in which she had. “Yeah, it’s your job to do that but I’m just telling you that you’re not going to get it from me,” stated Mr Rowe.

“That’s not very fair to Ann Butler and her family,” stated gardai, to which the accused replied, “who cares about them, I don’t”.

At one stage, Mr Rowe stated he was not speaking anymore as a result of he was solely “digging a deeper hole” for himself.

Gardai advised to the accused that the opening couldn’t get any deeper. “Oh believe me it can,” he replied.

“Why do you think it can get deeper, you have already told us you killed a woman?” requested gardai. “I know I did yeah, I’m after saying 101 times and I’m sick of saying it now. I told you where the body was, I told you where I killed her, that’s all I’m doing now, I have enough,” replied Mr Rowe.

Detectives put it to the accused that there was nothing extra severe than taking somebody’s life. “You don’t think I don’t know that,” he replied.

Again Mr Rowe repeated that gardai wouldn’t discover out from him as to how Ms Butler died.

“That’s not very fair to the Butlers,” stated gardai.

In reply, Mr Rowe stated: “The Butler family know their mother is dead and that’s it”.

The accused later informed gardai that he was “going to go back and cut her up and bury her legs one place and bury her arms somewhere else but you know I’m not like that and I rang you and told you to go and find her”. “If I hadn’t come to you, you probably would have had another dead body on a slab,” he added.

He later informed officers to cease speaking about Ms Butler as she was “gone” and there was nothing he may do about it. “You are not going to find out off me what happened in that house, what happened in that house is going to stay between that person and me, that one Ann, I don’t even know her name, that’s terrible,” he continued.

When gardai knowledgeable Mr Rowe that Ms Butler was in a morgue in Dublin, the accused informed officers that they have been “guilt-tripping” him right into a confession.

The accused stood on the window of the interview room and started to cry when gardai informed him that Ms Butler had six stab wounds in her again and one to her neck. When requested if he had put one thing within the deceased’s mouth, the accused simply sobbed, sat on the windowsill after which nodded sure.

Mr Rowe agreed with gardai that the deceased nonetheless had a few years left forward of her and didn’t deserve what occurred to her.

When requested why Mr Rowe couldn’t inform them what he did to Ms Butler, the accused stated “because it’s disgusting” and nodded in settlement that his actions had frightened him.

When gardai confirmed the crucifix to the accused, Mr Rowe stated he didn’t need it close to him however wouldn’t inform officers why.

Gradai put it to the accused that he had murdered Ms Butler and had the “audacity to take the crucifix [depiction of Jesus]” and depart the cross in her home, which they stated fitted “perfectly together”.

“Do they?” requested the accused to which the gardai stated they did.

Under cross-examination, Det Sgt Sheeran agreed with Kathleen Leader SC, defending, that her shopper had no reference to the “Kinahan gang”.

The trial has beforehand heard that Mr Rowe informed a detective that he had dedicated “five other murders”, was working for the Kinahan Cartel and obtained €5,500 “for doing a murder”.

Following this, Claire Greaney from Forensic Science Ireland testified {that a} timber cross was recovered from Ms Butler’s home on Maudlin Street and a “Jesus figure” was present in Mr Rowe’s house on Abbey Street. She examined the timber cross and the “Jesus figure” to see in the event that they have been initially from the identical crucifix unit. The witness stated her findings offered “extremely strong support” that the timber cross and “Jesus figure” have been initially from the identical crucifix unit somewhat than not.

Detective Sergeant James O’Brien has informed the trial he noticed that the physique of Ms Butler had lacerations to the neck, an harm to the pinnacle and her left ear seemed to be lacking when he entered her dwelling.

The jury has additionally heard that Mr Rowe informed gardai: “I thought it was going to be an easy touch, what have I done.”

The trial continues tomorrow earlier than Ms Justice Karen O’Connor and a jury of seven males and 5 ladies.