A MOTHER-of-one accused of murder has told a jury she disarmed her co-accused in the midst of a fatal beating by taking both a knife and dumbbell from him.
Both Shaunean Boyle and Stephen Hughes are standing trial for the murder of Lurgan man Owen Creaney, whose body was placed into a wheelie bin after he died from head and chest injuries in a house in Craigavon.
The 40-year-old was attacked in the hallway of Hughes's Moyraverty Court home in the early hours of July 3, 2014.
Boyle (25), from Edenderry Park in Banbridge, and 29-year-old Hughes, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, have admitted being in the house at the time but both blame the other for administering the beating.
Giving evidence on Tuesday, Boyle said at the time of the murder she and Hughes were not a couple, but that she loved him.
She confirmed that the trio had been drinking in Lurgan before returning drunk to Hughes's house at around 3am.
Boyle said everything seemed normal until Hughes "lost his temper" and started talking about his previous home being trashed.
"He had said to Owen that he was hanging about with the person that ransacked his house. Owen just said that he didn't want anything to do with it.
"Stephen got up off his chair, went over to Owen and punched him twice in the face. I got up off the chair. I told Stephen to stop it."
Boyle said she then told Hughes that she and Mr Creaney were going to leave, and that she tried the back and front door but they were locked.
She then claimed that while in the hall Hughes "started punching Owen again... until he fell on the ground" and "started kicking him".
"He started stamping on him after the kicks."
Boyle claimed she tried to push Hughes away, but he pushed her and she fell.
As she was getting to her feet, she said she saw Hughes "coming out of the living room with a dumbbell" which she grabbed from him.
She then witnessed "more kicks" before Hughes went into the kitchen and returned with a butcher's knife.
"He like kneeled on his chest and put the knife to his throat. I grabbed the blade of the knife and told him I wasn't letting go of it. I got the knife and put it back into the kitchen."
Boyle said this incident ended the assault. When asked why, she replied: "I think Hughsey realised what he had done. He was walking up the hallway and into the living room with his hands on his head and he said 'What have I done'."
Both Hughes and Boyle have already admitted that following the beating they carried Mr Creaney upstairs.
He lay in the same position for two days before passing away from his injuries.
Boyle claimed that she asked Hughes "more than once" to call an ambulance.
At hearing.
