Murder accused admitted to killing girl however wouldn’t say why, trial hears

A person accused of murdering a pensioner in her own residence informed gardaí he had killed the lady however refused to say why, telling detectives it was to do with “nobody; simply me, God and that girl”, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

When requested by gardaí why he couldn’t inform them what he did to 71-year-old Ann Butler, Trevor Rowe replied: “Because it is disgusting.”

The courtroom heard Mr Rowe additionally informed officers he was going to return to Ms Butler’s home “to chop her up and bury her legs one place and bury her arms elsewhere”, however as a substitute made nameless telephone calls to gardaí so they might discover her physique.

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

Mr Rowe (30), with an tackle at Abbey Street, Kilkenny has pleaded not responsible to murdering Ms Butler at her residence at Maudlin Street, Kilkenny on March twentieth, 2020.

Interview

In his first interview, Mr Rowe informed officers he had made nameless telephone calls to gardaí as a result of he simply wished “the lady discovered” and was ashamed of what he had achieved.

The courtroom has heard proof that on March twenty fifth, 2020, 999 calls have been made, together with one the place a male mentioned he murdered somebody and that the placement of the physique was on Maudlin Street in Kilkenny.

On Wednesday, 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 twenty sixth.

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

Gardaí put it to the accused that they “actually didn’t consider” him on the time and requested Mr Rowe why he thought this was. “Because you understand me, lots of people would not consider I might do one thing like that as a result of I’m not that kind of particular person,” he replied.

“I’d practically assist an outdated particular person with the procuring earlier than I’d do one thing so silly, devious, horrible and inhumane,” he added.

“I’m going to be sitting up in jail doing life,” Mr Rowe mentioned, including that he already knew “lifers” in jail, “a great deal of them”.

When gardaí requested Mr Rowe if he accepted he had killed Ms Butler, the accused mentioned: “Yes, I did alright. I accepted I killed a lady; that’s all I’m going to say”.

“I do know she is useless and I am unable to deliver her again and I’m sorry for that however I am unable to deliver her again,” Mr Rowe continued.

When officers put it to Mr Rowe that they have been making an attempt to determine why Ms Butler had died, the accused mentioned “however you are going to get when get post-mortem [sic]”. “You do not want me to particularly inform you what you’re going to know in a day or two,” he added.

‘Plain and easy’

Gardaí informed the accused they didn’t know why he had murdered Ms Butler. “You do not should know, as a result of it is nothing to do with you; plain and easy,” he mentioned.

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

The officers mentioned they needed to set up why Ms Butler died the best way she had, to which he replied: “Yeah, it is your job to try this, however I’m simply telling you that you just’re not going to get it from me.”

“That’s not very reasonable to Ann Butler and her household,” the garda mentioned, to which Mr Rowe mentioned: “Who cares about them, I do not”.

At one stage, Mr Rowe mentioned he was not speaking any extra as a result of he was solely “digging a deeper gap” for himself.

When gardaí urged to the outlet couldn’t get any deeper, Mr Rowe mentioned: “Oh consider me it will probably.”

“Why do you assume it will probably get deeper, you could have already informed us you killed a lady?” gardaí requested.

“I do know I did yeah, I’m after saying 101 instances and I’m sick of claiming it now. I informed you the place the physique was, I informed you the place I killed her, that is all I’m doing now, I’ve sufficient,” Mr Rowe replied.

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

Again Mr Rowe repeated that gardaí wouldn’t discover out from him as to how Ms Butler died. In reply, Mr Rowe mentioned: “The Butler household know their mom is useless and that is it”.

‘Guilt-tripping’

The accused later informed gardai that he was “going to return and lower her up and bury her legs one place and bury her arms elsewhere, however you understand I’m not like that and I rang you and informed you to go and discover her”.

“If I hadn’t come to you, you most likely would have had one other useless physique on a slab,” he added.

He later informed officers to cease speaking about Ms Butler as she was “gone” and there was nothing he might do about it. “You are usually not going to seek out out off me what occurred in that home, what occurred in that home goes to remain between that particular person and me, that one Ann, I do not even know her title, that is horrible,” he continued.

When gardaí knowledgeable Mr Rowe that Ms Butler was in a morgue in Dublin, the accused informed officers 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 gardaí informed him 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.

Mr Rowe agreed with gardaí 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 mentioned “as a result of it is disgusting” and nodded in settlement that his actions had frightened him.

Crucifix

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

Gardaí put it to the accused that he had murdered Ms Butler and had the “audacity to take the crucifix” and go away the cross in her home, which they mentioned fitted “completely collectively”. “Do they?” requested the accused, to which the gardaíi mentioned they did.

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

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

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 determine” was present in Mr Rowe’s condo on Abbey Street.

She examined the timber cross and the “Jesus determine” to see in the event that they have been initially from the identical crucifix unit. The witness mentioned her findings supplied “extraordinarily sturdy assist” that the timber cross and “Jesus determine” have been initially from the identical crucifix unit reasonably than not.

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

The jury has additionally heard Mr Rowe informed gardaí: “I assumed it was going to be a straightforward contact, what have I achieved.”

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