Nurse died of two wounds to neck, court told

A 35-year-old nurse found dead in a bedroom at the Irish Management Institute last year died of two cut-throat wounds to her neck, a court heard.

Deputy State Pathologists Dr Michael Curtis was giving evidence at the murder trial of the Romanian woman’s ex-boyfriend.

Mihalache Marian (aged 49), with an address in Romania, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Loradena Pricajanin on January 28, 2010. She was found dead that morning in a bedroom at the Irish Management Institute (IMI) in Sandyford, Dublin. The accused was also found in the room.

Dr Curtis told the Central Criminal Court that he carried out a preliminary examination of the scene that morning, observing the deceased lying face-down in a blood-soaked bed. When he turned her body over, she had obvious wounds on her neck, he said.

He explained that he conducted a full post-mortem examination on her body later that day.

He examined two long, cut-throat incise wounds.

“They were caused by a sharp blade being drawn across the neck,” he explained.

He found that they were quite deep, down to the bone, and would have resulted in massive blood loss.

“The left common carotid artery was injured,” he said, explaining that this was one of the main arteries in the body.

“There was a crack or fracture to the fifth cervical vertebrae,” he continued, outlining the other internal injuries that the blade caused.

The larynx and upper oesophagus had been completely cut, he added.

He said that there was also a short penetrating wound to the left side of the neck but no evidence of any defensive injuries.

“In my view it’s infinitely more likely that these wounds were caused by someone else and were not suicidal,” he said. “The homicidal explanation is infinitely more likely.”

He also said that the length of the wounds and Ms Pricajanin’s position in the bed suggested that they might have been inflicted from behind.

Dr Orla Young gave evidence of the injuries for which she treated the accused when he was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital that morning. The senior registrar testified via live television link from Arizona.

She said that there were two almost horizontal injuries to Mr Marian’s neck, one on each side.

They had breached the external jugular veins and sternomastoid muscle.

He was taken into theatre, where she tied his veins and sutured his muscle and skin. He was discharged four days later.

She said that she wasn’t a forensic specialist, but in her opinion Mr Marian’s wounds, including superficial injuries to his wrists, could be consistent with self affliction.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of seven men and five women.