Murder trial hears evidence of cause of death

The jury in the trial of a man accused of killing another man in Limerick two years ago has heard evidence the cause of death was “asphyxial”.

Kevin Coughlan (aged 29), of Avondale Drive, Greystones, Limerick has pleaded not guilty to murdering Francis Greene at Steamboat Quay on a date unknown between November 28 and November 29, 2009.

He has pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment of Mr Greene between Lower Hartstonge Street and Steamboat Quay in Limerick on November 28 2009.

Mr Coughlan also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Roy Finn and not guilty to the production of a knife during that alleged assault at Lower Hartstonge Street on 28 November 2009.

The court heard the 47-year-old’s body was found six weeks later on the bank of the River Shannon on farming land at Portrine, Co. Clare on February 5, 2010.

Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jabbar told Mr Paady McCarthy SC prosecuting, he conducted a post mortem examination on the body on February 6, 2010.

“I believe this is an asphyxial death,” said Dr Jabbar who told the jury causes of asphyxiation include suffocation, strangulation or drowning.

The pathologist told the jury: “drowning represents to me a potential viable cause of death.”

He said the tongue was discoloured but intact and had bite marks or indentations on the front right hand side.

Dr Jabbar told the court if pressure is applied to the neck it causes movement of the tongue outwards which, he said: “can be seen in cases of strangulation or epilepsy”. He agreed with Mr McCarthy epilepsy was excluded in this case.

Samples showed there was a level of 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood and 120 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine, which the pathologist agreed was over the current driving limit. He also said the urine sample but not the blood tested positive for amphetamine.

He said too much emphasis should not be placed on the results as there was an indigenous level of alcohol in a decomposing body, which equally can be diluted when a body has been submerged in water.

The pathologist has yet to be cross-examined by counsel for the defence in relation to his evidence.

The trial continues before a jury of 10 men and two women presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.