Deputy State pathologist gives evidence at murder trial

A Chinese man fatally stabbed after an intruder broke into his house died from a single stab wound to the chest the Central Criminal Court heard today.

Dr Michael Curtis, the deputy state pathologist told Mr George Birmingham SC, prosecuting, that Mr Zhi Song (aged 23) died from a single wound approximately 16cm long, which passed through the left ventricle of the heart and into his left lung.

He agreed with Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, defending that he could not absolutely exclude the possibility that the fatal blow was a result of Mr Song running onto the knife.

He also agreed that the fact the wound was a slightly irregular shape could suggest movement of either the victim, the weapon or both.

Derek Wade (aged 27) of Church Avenue, Rialto, Dublin, denies murdering Zhi Song at Ruben Avenue, South Circular Road, Dublin on June 29, 2005. He also denies attempting to rob the purse of Xiau Wen Zhou on the same occasion.

Dr Curtis said that he personally "had an element of scepticism over people running onto a knife."

He said that an "awful lot more research needs to be done on that subject."

He said that in order to inflict the fatal injury the knife would have had to be held straight out with the blade almost completely vertical.

Dr Curtis told the jury it was not unusual for a person with this type of injury to continue moving for some time although the injured person could also go "straight down".

He told the jury that he had found blood stains in several places on the upstairs landing as well as a large stain in one of the bedrooms.

The trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Barry White and the jury of six men and five women.