A 33-year-old Limerick man has gone on trial accused of the murder of Martin Purcell who was found dead with 41 stab wounds at his home.
Gerard Manning with an address at Upper Gerald Griffin Street denies killing the 54-year-old at an apartment on Wickham Street between the 28th and 30th of September 2011.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Una Ní Raifeartaigh, SC, said Martin Purcell seems to have been a quiet man, who liked to take a drink and loved music, particularly Irish music.
On September 30th the tenant downstairs from his apartment thought he had not seen the 54-year-old for a while and alerted the landlord who decided to call in to the apartment with a colleague.
Court told of 'horrific scene'
The jury has been told they were met with an horrific scene and dialled 999.
There was a body lying on the floor with multiple stab wounds. The trousers and underwear had been pulled down and the lights and television were on.
The court has heard in garda interviews Gerard Manning denied ever having known Martin Purcell or having been in his apartment.
Ms. Ní Raiffertaigh claims that is significant because the prosecution alleges 2 fingerprints in blood at the scene match those of the accused - one on a chair near the body and one on a hot tap of the kitchen.
The trial is due to last 2 weeks.
