Closing arguments in the trial of a man accused of a garda's murder in Roscommon two years ago have heard claims that the accused was 'like someone acting in a movie' and was completely disconnected from reality when the shooting took place.
That was one of the closing statements from Defence SC Roisin Lacey, representing Stephen Silver in his trial for the capital murder of Colm Horkan on the 17th of June 2020.
The 46 year old bike mechanic from Foxford in Mayo has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. He claims that he did not believe Detective Horkan was a serving member of An Garda Siochána due to his appearance in plain clothes and in an unmarked Garda car, with Rosin Lacey stating that once uniformed Gardaí responded to the shooting, he was compliant. The jury was reminded of several statements by the accused in the immediate aftermath of the shooting where he denied Colm Horkan was Guard and that a 'man with a gun' had attacked him. The defence also claimed that those close to Stephen Silver and those who observed him in the lead up to the shooting, were concerned over his mental health. Referencing testimony from Stephen Silver's sister, Ms Lacey said his loved ones claimed they were extremely concerned for his state of mind, with his sister, Marian Bruen, saying that there were several red flags during a conversation with her brother the day before the shooting.
Stephen Silver's mental and medical assessment was then brought into question, with the prosecutions evidence from Doctor Will Monteiro, a consultant psychologist based in Roscommon, challenged due to what was branded as his brief interaction with the accused. Similarly, the delay in the interviewing of Silver by the prosecution expert witness was highlighted, having taken place over one and a half years after the night of the shooting. Several statements from key witnesses describing Mr Siler's behaviour on the night of the shooting were also highlighted by the defence, with many of his actions described as indications of a severely altered mental state and a detachment from reality.
Closing statements will continue this afternoon.
