Man accused of stabbing sex worker with kitchen knife
A MAN stabbed a sex worker with a kitchen knife in a violent attempted robbery after “procuring her services” at her apartment in Clondalkin, it has been alleged.
Danilo De Silva (40) is accused of demanding money and attacking the woman with a knife after he met her by appointment through an escort website.
Blanchardstown District Court
Blanchardstown District Court heard one wound to the palm of her hand had needed eight stitches. Mr De Silva, with an address at Wentworth Place, Jigginstown, Naas, Co Kildare, is charged with attempted robbery, assault causing harm and producing a knife at the woman’s Clondalkin apartment on November 2.
Judge David McHugh refused bail and remanded him in custody for a week.
Objecting to bail, a garda said it was alleged that after Mr De Silva and the woman had consensual sex, he produced a large kitchen knife and demanded money.
She managed to push him away, but he forced her to the ground and struck the knife down towards her a number of times, causing a laceration to her cheek, the garda said.
He continued to stab at her, one stab aimed at her throat, it was alleged.
She used her hand to protect herself and was cut on the palm.
The woman’s friend (30) came to her aid and the accused demanded money from her, the garda alleged.
Both women ran to the kitchen where they used their body weight against the door to prevent him from entering.
It was alleged he continued to make threats, demand money and attempt to attack them with the knife as they called the gardai.
The garda said CCTV evidence showed the accused leaving with a long silver knife.
He believed Mr De Silva would interfere with witnesses.
The alleged victim said after they finished, the accused had looked at her and said “sorry”, then took the knife from a bag and attacked her.
Two days later, she told the judge, a man phoned and said: “I want my money back.”
The accused knew where she lived and she was afraid “he will try to kill me”.
The other woman told the court she also got a phone call and the man said “I’m the Brazilian guy. Tell (the alleged victim) I will come after the money.”
Defence barrister Jennifer Jackson said the accused admitted he contacted the woman on an escort website and “procured her services” but he denied the charges and his version was that a knife was pulled on him and he was robbed of money.
Applying for bail, Ms Jackson said her client was presumed innocent, the charges against him were “allegations alone” and he would abide by bail conditions.
Judge McHugh remanded Mr De Silva in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on November 10.
By subscribing to The Echo you are supporting your local newspaper Click Here: Echo Online.
