Murder trial told of man’s body found in river Bandon

A jury at a murder trial were told yesterday they would hear that a 27-year-old father of one whose bound body was found in the river Bandon in Co Cork died from asphyxia and blood loss.

Catherine O’Connor (37) of Bridge House, Bandon, Co Cork, denied the murder of Jonathan Duke at Bridge House in Bandon on November 13th, 2011, when she was arraigned on the single charge at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork yesterday.

Outlining the State’s case to the jury, prosecution counsel, Tim O’Leary SC, said the jury would hear evidence from Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster that the late Mr Duke was found to have up to 60 different wounds on his body.

He told the jury of four men and eight women that they would hear how Mr Duke's body was recovered from the river and found to be bound with ligatures and they would hear that Dr Bolster concluded that Mr Duke died from asphyxia combined with blood loss.

Heard banging
Mr O'Leary went on to say the jury would hear evidence from two witnesses, Aaron Nolan and Shane O'Driscoll that they were in bed in their flat on the second floor of Bridge House on the night in question and heard banging coming from the third floor flat.

He said the jury would hear evidence they looked out their kitchen window which overlooks a side entrance to the house and that they would say they saw Ms O’Connor and another person throw what appeared to be a body over railings overlooking a path by the river.

The jury would hear evidence that the two men went to a local pub and dialled 999 and were put through to Bandon Garda station and as a result of their call, Garda Kieran Murphy came to Bridge House where he found blood in the entrance hallway.

Gained entry
Garda Murphy would give evidence that while going into the building he became aware of somebody running inside and when he got to the top floor and gained entry to the flat there, he found Ms O'Connor and another person.

The trial before Mr Justice Paul Carney is expected to last three weeks.