An Irish man will face court in the Western Australian capital Perth tomorrow, charged with the murder of a fellow Irishman after prosecutors today rejected his guilty plea to the charge of manslaughter.
Vincent Martin Crowe is accused of murdering Wexford man Kenny Meyler (21) at a house in the Perth suburb of Scarborough in February last year.
Mr Crowe, aged 32 at the time, was originally charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, but the charge was upgraded to murder when Mr Meyler died a week after the incident, at the Sir Charles Gairdner hospital.
His mother and two other relatives arrived in Perth before he died.
In the Western Australian Supreme Court today, the jury was told Mr Crowe admitted manslaughter but that had not been accepted by the state.
When Mr Crowe was arrested on February 11th, 2013, police said Mr Meyler had suffered a stab wound to the neck.
Opening submissions begin tomorrow in a trial which is due to last for two weeks.
Mr Meyler’s parents have travelled to Australia for the trial and are receiving assistance from the Claddagh Association, an Irish welfare group in Perth.
