Victim stabbed 'with moderate force', court told

The trial of two Dublin men accused of murdering a man heard that the victim, who received a total of 16 stab wounds, was stabbed with "moderate force" with an eight-inch kitchen knife, the state pathologist told a jury at the Central Criminal Court.

Alan Keogh (aged 32), of Wellmount Green, Finglas and Gary McNevin (aged 31), of no fixed abode but with an address at Glenhill Road, Finglas, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Mitchell (aged 32), of Monasterboice Road, Crumlin, at Monasterboice Road between and inclusive of October 17-20, 2003.

State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy has told the court Mr Mitchell died from blood loss from a total of 16 stab wounds to the neck, trunk and leg. One of the two stab wounds to the neck "sliced" his pulmonary vein and carotid artery.

Cross-examined by Ms Isobel Kennedy SC, for Keogh, Dr Cassidy agreed that the injuries were inflicted in "somewhat of a haphazard manner".

She said there appeared to have been "some time" between the ten blunt-force trauma hits the victim received to the head and the infliction of the stab wounds.

Dr Cassidy said that the use of the eight-inch kitchen knife, which had a sharp end, "would have required moderate force" once it pierced through the dead man’s skin to be able to cut through cartilage.

A deep cut across the accused Keogh received across his palm could have been considered "a classic defensive injury", Dr Cassidy agreed with Ms Kennedy.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael Peart.