Murder accused ‘begged for cocaine’ on night partner was killed, trial hears
Ryan Dunne
The jury in the trial of a man charged with murdering his partner has heard that the accused asked for cocaine from the deceased’s brother on the night she was found stabbed to death in her own home.
David Serban told the jury at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday that Daniel Blanaru (37) “begged” him for cocaine, going on to say that the Serban family “overlooked” some of the accused’s “more unpleasant behaviour” during his relationship with Larisa Serban (26).
The jury also heard that when the accused presented himself at the garda station, there was blood on his clothing.
Mr Blanaru, from Rathmore, Athboy, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner Larisa at Rathmore, Co Meath on or about August 12th, 2022.
It is the State's case that Larisa was stabbed to death by her “jealous” and "controlling” partner at their home.
Mr Serban, the brother of the deceased, was cross-examined today by defence counsel, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC. Mr Ó Lideadha put it to the witness that in his statement to gardaí, Mr Serban said he had left Larisa’s house at roughly 1am on August 12th, when there was “no arguing or shouting”.
Mr Ó Lideadha said that the witness had told gardaí that he stopped at a bank to take money out of Larisa’s account for a rent payment. The court heard that the witness "always" had his sister's bank card.
“Is it possible you were getting money out for another purpose, maybe to buy cocaine?” asked Mr Ó Lideadha.
The witness denied this, going on to deny that he had been planning to return to Rathmore after buying cocaine.
Mr Ó Lideadha referenced a message sent by Larisa to the witness at 3.10am, in which she said to make sure not to give the accused “a line”.
“That fits in with you having cocaine and being able to give him some if you wanted,” said Mr Ó Lideadha.
The witness said: “The truth is, when I left the house at 1am, Daniel begged me to bring him cocaine, he was doing drugs. I told him I would go and get him cocaine, but I didn’t.”
“You said you were the last person to see her alive. Is it possible you were there when there was a struggle?” asked Mr Ó Lideadha.
“I feel I am being disrespected. I got there after the gardaí were on the scene,” replied Mr Serban, going on to say: “I wish I was there when there was this struggle, and I guarantee if I was there, I would be the one sitting in Mr Blanaru’s chair.”
He said that when he left the house there was nobody else there except his sister and Mr Blanaru.
The witness went on to say that Larisa “loved Daniel very much”, so her family “overlooked some of his more unpleasant behaviour”.
The jury also heard evidence from Garda Jason McDonagh, of Drogheda Garda Station, who told counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Eilis Brennan SC, that the accused presented himself at the garda station at around 6am on the morning of August 12th, 2022.
He said that the accused was “shouting in a foreign language” and the only words the garda could make out were: “My wife, my wife, we fight, we fight.”
During cross-examination, Garda McDonagh confirmed to Mr Ó Lideadha that the accused was in a distressed state at the time.
Sergeant David O’Leary gave evidence to counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Antonia Boyle BL, that the accused appeared upset and was saying: “my wife, my wife.”
Sgt O’Leary said that a fellow garda contacted him from the scene of the stabbing to inform him that Larisa was deceased, with a puncture wound to her upper left chest.
The sergeant said that he arrested the accused on suspicion of murder and, after cautioning him, the accused replied: “where are my kids?”
Sgt O’Leary told the court that he noticed a drop of blood on the accused’s shorts and there appeared to be blood on his runners.
He confirmed to Mr Ó Lideadha that there was no Romanian interpreter present when he arrested the accused.
The trial continues on Thursday before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury of 11 men and four women.
