Murder accused told gardaí he 'might have' stabbed partner with 'very sharp' knife, jury hears

Ryan Dunne

A 37-year-old man accused of murdering his partner told gardaí that he “might have” stabbed her with a “very sharp” knife, but he could not say how deep into her body it went, a jury has heard.

The trial also heard on Thursday that Daniel Blanaru was told by gardaí that a stab wound to Larisa Serban's chest was 12cm deep and it was not possible for her to do this herself.

Mr Blanaru, from Rathmore, Athboy, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Serban (26) on or about August 12th, 2022. It is the State's case that she was stabbed to death by Mr Blanaru, whom they argue was a “jealous” and "controlling" partner.

The jury previously heard that in garda interview, Mr Blanaru said that Larisa had a knife “in her body” after they “had an argument”. He said that Larisa told him to get out of the house, then “she went and took a knife and came towards me”.

The jury viewed video footage of Mr Blanaru’s interviews in Ashbourne Garda Station on August 12th, 2022, with Detective Sergeant Robert Madden giving evidence to counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Antonia Boyle BL.

During the interview, the accused, who was speaking through a Romanian interpreter, was asked what time he had stabbed Larisa, to which he replied: “Do you think I know? I don’t know.”

Mr Blanaru confirmed that a fight between them took place in the doorway of the bedroom.

“I threw the knife away. I had the knife in my hand and I threw it down. I’m not sure where it went, either into the bedroom or the hallway.”

He went on to tell gardaí: “I put my hand over the knife and took the knife away from her and when we were fighting and moving, I don’t know, I think I might have stabbed her.”

Mr Blanaru said that he did not know if he had used force, as it happened very quickly. He was asked if “a lot of violence” had been used, to which he replied: “Yes, because I was trying to take the knife away from her. I know that she was holding her hand on her chest.”

He said that the knife used was a “very sharp” kitchen knife, but he did not know “how many centimetres went in”.

During the interview, Det Sgt Madden referenced a report from State pathologist, Dr Heidi Okkers, who said that there was a stab wound to Larisa’s chest on the left hand side of the breast.

The wound was 3.7cm long,1.3cm wide, and 12cm deep, with the knife going through the rib and left lung. Dr Okkers said that “significant force” was used and it was not possible for Larisa to do this herself.

“No, not her,” said Mr Blanaru.

Det Sgt Madden next put to the accused that Dr Okkers has said there were defensive wounds on Larisa, including bruising to the back of her hands and forearms. Mr Blanaru replied that Larisa had these bruises two weeks before the stabbing.

“She done it herself and then she went to the police,” he said.

Det Sgt Madden again referenced the report by Dr Okkers, in which it was outlined that Larisa had suffered a fracture to the bone in her arm, which was a defensive injury.

Dr Okkers also identified linear scratches on Larisa’s hand, abrasions on the knuckles of her right hand, and scratches on her fingers. There was a small puncture wound on her upper right arm, bruising to her legs, and abrasions on the right leg.

Dr Okkers said that all bruising was fresh and recent, and there was an injury to the back of the head consistent with a hard impact against a flat surface. Dr Okkers said that all these wounds were defensive, while two stab wounds were consistent with a significant use of force. The cause of death was the stab wound to the chest.

To this, Mr Blanaru said to gardaí: “My thoughts are the same as yours. This couldn’t happen. I think happened something else here, but I don’t know. Only God knows.”

In his fourth garda interview on August 13th, 2022, Mr Blanaru was asked if he had stabbed Larisa once, to which he replied: “Yes. I don’t remember.”

He was asked if he had withdrawn the knife after stabbing her, to which he replied: “Of course. I know I threw the knife away from my hand.”

He confirmed that Larisa “let out a cry and grabbed her chest”, before she told him “to go, to run”.

It was put to Mr Blanaru that it seemed that the relationship between him and Larisa was deteriorating for some time before the night of the stabbing, to which Mr Blanaru confirmed that they were “always arguing”.

The trial continues on Friday before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury of 11 men and four women.