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A man accused of a brutal stabbing attack around 30 years ago that led a woman to lose her life has told the Royal Court he felt he had “nothing to hide”.
Barbara Griffin (59) and her aunt, Emma Anton (85), were stabbed in their home on Le Geyt Road, St. Saviour on 2 August 1990, with Ms Griffin dying from her wounds.
Rickie Michael Tregaskis (52) is pleading not guilty to the murder of Ms Griffin and the attempted murder of her aunt.
A Royal Court trial opened last week, with the court being told by one witness that Mr Tregaskis had a “Hitler Youth-type knife”.
As the trial entered its second week on Tuesday, Mr Tregaskis took the stand and was asked about having a knife by his representative, Advocate Rebecca Morley-Kirk.
She said it was not “in dispute” that Mr Tregaskis purchased a knife, with him going on to tell the jury that he used to frequent a St. Helier antique shop “once a week to buy regalia”.
The afternoon before Ms Griffin lost her life, Mr Tregaskis said he recalled being presented with two knives and buying the cheaper one. That evening, he said he went to the pub, to show the knife to a few people.
He said the knife was with him during a car journey later that evening – in the compartment in the front passenger door – but then “never saw it again”.
Earlier in the trial, Marie Dean – whose own criminal record was highlighted by Advocate Morley Kirk - had claimed before the court that Mr Tregaskis had invited her to join him in committing burglaries as he apparently needed some money, but she declined. She said he later admitted the killing to her.
However, when asked if he ever confessed anything to Ms Dean, Mr Tregaskis responded, “Absolutely no,” adding: “I never confessed to anyone.”
He recalled speaking to two police officers on 2 August, the day of the attack, and claimed Ms Dean approached with a bloody t-shirt on and made a “sick joke”, which he said he “didn’t laugh at.”
A query was also raised as to why Mr Tregaskis did not have a lawyer present during a subsequent six-hour interview with the police.
He told the Royal Court: “I had nothing to hide, so why would I need a lawyer?”
The trial continues today.
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