Pathologist gives cause of death in Arranmore murder trial

The trial of a man accused of murdering a man by stabbing him with a broken glass in a bar on Arranmore Island has heard evidence from a pathologist about the cause of death.

Stephen Boyle (aged 41) is accused of murdering Paul Boyle (aged 19) at Early’s Bar, Leabgarrow, Arranmore on October 3, 2009.

Mr Boyle of Austen House, Cambridge Road, Kilburn Park in London has pleaded not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court.

Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaabar told Mr Paul O’ Higgins SC prosecuting Paul Boyle died from associated blood loss and trauma caused by sharp force trauma.

He said he carried out the post mortem on October 4, 2009 after he “was given a history the man had been assaulted with a glass.”

Dr Jabbar told the court there was trauma to the left side of the neck, which was caused by sharp force trauma and said he lost 60% of his blood.

The pathologist said there were two large wounds and the injuries were already surgically modified before the post mortem was carried out.

He agreed with Mr Micheal O’ Higgins SC defending that in a situation where a person had died at the scene, there would be no surgical intervention on wounds but that this was not the case here.

Tony Ward who was also in the pub that night agreed with Mr (Micheal) O’ Higgins he had an affair with his client’s wife which went on for over two years.

Mr (Micheal) O’ Higgins put it to him that a witness saw him having “a heated discussion” with the accused and he was trying to “minimise his involvement.”

“You don’t want people to know that seconds before Paul got killed the air was being turned blue by you and by him shouting about her,” said Mr (Michael) O’ Higgins but Mr Ward said he did not remember.

Earlier in the cross-examination Mr Ward agreed on the night of the incident he “would have had a fair amount of drink” but said he didn’t think his memory was affected by it.

“Your temper was very well up” said Mr O’ Higgins to which Mr Ward replied: “It would have been, yes.”

“You have attempted to minimize your involvement in this matter,” said Mr (Micheal) O’ Higgins but Mr Ward disagreed.

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