A lady on trial for fatally stabbing her 94-year-old father within the abdomen on his birthday advised Garda she heard God say he was not her ‘daddy’ however an intruder and stabbed him within the coronary heart thrice.
Earlier, a prosecuting legal professional advised the 12 jurors that homicide prosecution Julie Flood was within the throes of a psychotic state when she stabbed her father to demise of their Wexford house.
It was throughout the opening of his trial within the Central Felony Courtroom on Tuesday that Shane Costelloe SC, the prosecution, mentioned specialists on the case agreed the defendant match the authorized definition of somebody who was insane on the time.
Michael Delaney SC, who defends Ms Flood, made three formal admissions to the courtroom right now on behalf of his shopper.
These included that the accused had stabbed his father with a kitchen knife of their house within the early morning hours of April 12, 2019, that the only stab wound inflicted by the act claimed the lifetime of Patrick Flood two days later, and that the the defendant was correctly arrested and detained by garda.
A driver advised the jury that the accused lady was in a state of misery when she stopped him in her pajamas on the facet of the highway that morning and mentioned, “I am after stabbing my father.”
Julie Flood (51) with an handle listed as The Oyle, Oylegate, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, is charged with the homicide of her father, Patrick (94), at their house handle in The Oyle on 14th April 2019. She pleaded no responsible of madness.
Opening the prosecution’s case on Tuesday, Mr Costelloe advised the 12 jurors that it was a considerably uncommon case and that a lot of what is going to be introduced as proof has been agreed between the events.
The legal professional advised the jury that the allegation in opposition to Ms Flood is that she stabbed her father, and he died from the stab wound. Mr Costelloe mentioned there will probably be no difficulty as to the reason for Mr Flood’s demise and that the difficulty will probably be whether or not the accused was insane on the time he stabbed his father within the abdomen.
Skilled testimonials
There will probably be knowledgeable proof from each the state and the protection, Costelloe mentioned, and the jury could be very more likely to be introduced with a unified method on their half. “It is extremely possible that you’ll not hear proof on the contrary however a unified model. I agree about his mind-set, his psychological situation on the time he stabbed his father,” she added.
The problem within the case, the prosecution counsel mentioned, could be whether or not Ms Flood was sane or insane when she stabbed her father. “Consultants appear to agree that on the time Ms Flood stabbed her father he was inside the authorized definition of somebody who was insane,” she added.
Describing the information of the case, Mr Costelloe mentioned April 12, 2019 was Patrick Flood’s birthday and he had turned 94. He was residing in Oylegate on the time along with his 48-year-old daughter Julie.
The legal professional mentioned the state alleges Ms Flood was grappling with a psychotic or psychological state by which she thought God was instructing her that the individual she was seeing in her house “was not her father” however somebody who it had taken her form, and he or she was about to stab him. Mrs Flood stabbed her father, she left the home and went to the facet of the highway the place she stopped a male driver.
The courtroom heard additional proof that the person went to Mrs Flood’s house and located Patrick Flood bleeding profusely from the wound in his stomach. Mr. Flood was aware on the time and in a position to interact with Garda.
The courtroom may even hear proof, the lawyer mentioned, that Mr Flood was taken to the native hospital the place the choice was made “fairly rapidly” that he required surgical procedure. At first it appeared that Mr. Flood may do it, however he died two days afterward April 14th.
Counsel additional mentioned it is going to be learn within the document that the conclusion of the assistant state pathologist who carried out the post-mortem was that Mr. Flood died of his stab wound and really severe coronary heart illness.
In relation to the proof in opposition to the accused, Mr Costelloe mentioned Ms Flood was in an aggravated state when she was arrested, detained and questioned by the Gardai.
Mr Costelloe mentioned the accused was clearly nonetheless in emotional ache and was appalled by what she had performed and advised Gardai she thought she had been directed by the voice of God to stab her father.
Alan Somers supplied proof that he was driving to work on a highway main off the principle Wexford Enniscorthy Highway at 7.15am on the morning of 12 April when he noticed a lady attempting to cease folks. He mentioned the girl was bodily giant and he or she wore pajamas by the facet of the highway. The witness agreed that it was instantly obvious to him that the girl was in a state of misery.
Mr. Somers mentioned he stopped and requested the girl what was flawed. He mentioned the girl was hysterical and was in a position to say “I am after stabbing my father.”
The witness ran as much as the girl’s house and noticed an aged man in checkered pajamas, lined in blood and distressed, standing in entrance of the porch entrance. Mr Somers mentioned the person stood along with his fingers by his sides and mentioned ‘he’s after stabbing me’, referring to defendant Julie Flood.
Mr Somers referred to as 999 and mentioned the accused remained outdoors the home and continued to look very distressed.
Whereas there, the witness mentioned he noticed Mrs. Flood saying “I am sorry Dad” time and again. He agreed with Mr. Costelloe that the accused gave the impression to be very agitated and very distressed.
An ambulance arrived and help was supplied to Mr Flood. Mr. Somers obtained a sheet to cowl the numerous quantity of blood on the ground inside the doorway door.
He agreed that Mrs Flood was in such a stressed and agitated state that considered one of her neighbors picked up her canine, so the accused may pet it to calm her down. Ms Flood was loaded into the again of the Garda police automobile.
Mr Somers mentioned he had requested Mr Flood on a number of events to sit down down however he was fairly distressed and repeatedly stood up.
Postmortem
Mr. Costelloe learn an announcement from Assistant State Pathologist Dr. Margot Bolster, who had performed an post-mortem on Mr. Flood. In her testimony, Dr. Bolster mentioned the deceased had an open wound in his higher left stomach and that the knife had penetrated by means of pores and skin and muscle. The stab wound was 3.5cm lengthy and no protection wounds to the fingers or forearms had been recognized.
The pathologist mentioned Mr Flood was affected by extreme coronary heart illness from which he may have died at any time, however on this case there was proof of a latest stab wound to the stomach. He mentioned the reason for demise was congested coronary heart failure sophisticated by ischemic colitis in opposition to the background of a latest stab wound.
Garda Deirdre Coleman mentioned she arrived on the scene at 7:20 am on April 12 and an aged man was sitting in an aisle seat with numerous blood on the left facet of his chest. He noticed a knife on the bottom.
The witness mentioned when Mr. Flood was leaving within the ambulance his daughter mentioned, “I stabbed myself daddy. I am sorry daddy. Oh assist me Lord Jesus.”
Garda Coleman mentioned she thought Ms Flood was affected by some kind of psychological dysfunction and detained her underneath part 12 of the Psychological Well being Act. He mentioned Mrs. Flood’s means of talking was fairly infantile and sharp.
She took the accused to Enniscorthy Garda station but it surely grew to become obvious she couldn’t be held. She was then evaluated at Waterford College Hospital which has a psychiatric unit and the choice was made to involuntarily detain her.
Garda Detective Darren Coleman mentioned when the accused was prepared for questioning on April 23 he advised Gardai he was in his bed room that morning and unable to sleep.
“I’ve heard God say he isn’t your father, stab him within the coronary heart thrice, stab him, stab him, stab him,” mentioned Mrs Flood.
Eire
The lady was in a psychotic state when she stabbed her father…
The defendant requested “why would you like me to stab him” and the voice mentioned “he isn’t your father” so he stabbed him and referred to as an ambulance.
Ms Flood claimed she didn’t know why she did it however that she should have been mentally unwell and that she had had a psychological sickness since she was 13. She mentioned that God had advised her that she was not her father however an intruder. She mentioned she took the knife from the kitchen.
Mr Flood advised Dr Paul Cromwell earlier than he died that he awoke at 7 that morning to seek out his daughter standing within the corridor yelling at him that he was an imposter. He mentioned the accused had approached him and stabbed him within the abdomen.
The state concluded its case right now and the trial continues tomorrow earlier than Choose Paul McDermott and a jury of six males and 6 ladies, when knowledgeable proof is anticipated to be referred to as.
