Acussed breaks down in court during forensic evidence

A Nigerian man accused of beating his Jamaican wife to death with a lump hammer broke down in the courtroom today as his counsel were cross-examining a forensic scientist.

Goodwill Udechukwu, who denies murdering his wife Natasha Gray at a Dublin apartment on February 18 2003, began crying loudly after Dr Dorothy Ramsbottom gave evidence to the defence.

He then said: “I said it to Irish police, I didn’t do this. I said it many times.”

The jury then left the courtroom at the Central Criminal Court as the 32-year-old with a previous address at Royal Canal View, Royal Canal Bank Phibsboro was comforted by his lawyer Mr Pieter Le Vert BL.

Earlier Dr Ramsbottom had confirmed to Mr Le Vert that Mr Udechukwu had been categorically eliminated as a donor of DNA on a shirt, which the prosecution allege he was wearing at the time of the murder.

His wife’s blood was found spattered on the white shirt, which was later found in the bedroom where her body was found.

Dr Ramsbottom confirmed that a partial profile of DNA belonging to a male had been found on the left sleeve of the shirt in combination with DNA from Natasha Gray.

Another partial profile which could be from the same source as the first was also found on the back of the shirt, but she could not say if this was male or female.

She agreed that Ms Gray’s youngest son, who’s father is the accused, her former partner Guy Mboze, her nephew Steaveroy Steer and her brother-in-law Ian Curtis had also been excluded as donors of the DNA.

She agreed she could categorically say that Mr Udechukwu did not donate via blood or any other way, the DNA on that shirt.

Dr Ramsbottom said she had got a partial DNA profile from the accused by developing it from a cup he was believed to have drunk from.

The defence has now concluded its case and the jury is to hear closing speeches and a charge by Mr Justice Kevin O’Higgins before retiring to consider its verdict .