Pathologist gives evidence in pub row murder trial

The State Pathologist today told the jury at the case of a Dublin man accused of murder that the deceased died from "a single stab wound to the left chest".

Mr Jason Larkin of Ravensdale Road, East Wall, Dublin, denies stabbing Mr Patrick Costello (aged 31), also of East Wall, at the Plough public house, Marlborough Street, on July 4, 2002.

The prosecution claims that Mr Larkin stabbed the victim after the pair had been involved in a slagging match or row after drinking in the Plough bar for several hours.

The prosecution claims that after Mr Larkin threw a glass at Mr Costello's head, they both ended up at the porch of the bar where the accused allegedly drew his knife from the inside of his jacket and lunged it into the chest of the deceased.

After the victim was stabbed, it is claimed that Mr Larkin allegedly fled the scene, withdrew money from an ATM machine and continued drinking in the Forum bar in the city centre before passing by the scene again in the early hours of July 5, 2002.

"The knife, as it went through the ribs, sliced the left lung and the scratched the surface of the heart, puncturing the blood vessels around the heart.

"The blood collected in the inside of the heart. The effect of this is that the blood collects in the heart, crushing the heart, and prevents the heart from beating," Dr Cassidy told the jury of eight men and four women in the second day of the murder trial.

"The deceased's lung was also collapsed due to the stabbing. He had inhaled blood in his airwaves, which had gone into the deceased's lungs," Dr Cassidy told the jury.

Mr Costello had, according to the State Pathologist, no defence injuries to his hands or arms.

"Usually in cases like this, the victim will attempt to raise his hands to protect himself but there were no injuries to suggest that he made any effort to protect himself."

Mr Patrick McCarthy, SC, prosecution counsel, asked the State Pathologist to assert whether the alleged murder weapon, a knife six inches long with a black handle, could have been used to stab the deceased.

Dr Cassidy said: "Yes, it could have caused the injury," when she was shown the alleged murder weapon in court today.

Mr Brendan Cummins, who was drinking in the Plough bar on the night of July 4 with Mr Larkin, today told the jury in the second day of the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court that he saw the accused "put a knife on the inside of his left hand side of his jacket" after he followed the accused outside the bar on Marlborough street sometime after 11pm.

Mr Larkin then "went back into the pub to finish his drink", Mr Cummins said. Mr Cummins claims that when Mr Larkin saw the deceased standing at the top of the bar he "picked up his glass and hit him across the head with it."

"Mr Larkin then went back out the door and Mr Costello went after him," Mr Cummins said.

Mr Cummins today gave evidence that he attempted to hold back the deceased from going out to confront Mr Larkin. Mr Cummins claims that he then saw Mr Larkin "swing" at Mr Costello. The deceased then "fell down holding his side with his hands", Mr Cummins said.

Ms Sharon Kinsella, who was a regular at the Plough bar in July 2002, today gave evidence that after Mr Larkin allegedly threw a glass at the deceased she begged Mr Costello not to confront the accused and just "to leave it".

When Mr Costello got to the door of the porch where Ms Kinsella claims the accused was standing, she said she saw Mr Larkin with a knife in his hand.

"I seen the knife in his hand and then all of a sudden Mr Costello fell to the ground. I was standing directly behind him. I caught his head in my hands and I held him. He said he was choking. There was blood coming from his mouth, his head and his chest," Ms Kinsella said.

On the day Mr Costello was stabbed, Mr David Smith Jr, his father Mr David Smith Sr, and his cousin Mr Paul Smith were cleaning the carpets of the Abbey Theatre, which is located directly opposite the Plough bar on Marlborough Street.

Today, Mr Smith Jr told the jury that at 11.30pm he saw a row taking place outside the Plough bar.

Mr Smith Jr claims that a tall man had been thrown out of the bar and that a stout man was attempting to hold him back.

"He looked suspicious. He had something in his hand which he kept dropping," Mr Smith Jr said today. Then another man came out of the pub and the stout man continued to keep the pair apart, he continued.

Mr Smith Jr said yesterday that the stout man then moved away from the fighting pair. "The tall fellow took two steps and punched the man in the chest.

"The man he hit was standing with his hands down by his side, he was facing the Abbey Theatre," Mr Smith Jr said today at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr David Smith Sr today also gave evidence. Mr Smith SR told the jury that after the "tall fellow thrust something at the person coming out the door. He fell to the ground."

"The tall fellow stood there for a minute, then someone shouted: 'Leg it', and he did," Mr Smith Sr said today.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White at the Central Criminal Court tommorow.