A Galway city man, Mr Malcolm O'Shaughnessy (22), bled to death after receiving a single stab wound to his heart, the State Pathologist, Prof John Harbison, told Galway Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Prof Harbison was giving evidence in the trial of Mr Miguel Alcanter (26), a Californian student, who is charged with the manslaughter of Mr O'Shaughnessy, at William Street West, Galway, on August 1st, 1998. Mr Alcanter denies the charge.
Evidence was heard this week from a number of witnesses who were with Mr O'Shaughnessy on the night he lost his life. He had consumed the equivalent of three or four pints of beer and had taken two ecstasy tablets before becom- ing involved in a street scuffle with the accused.
In court yesterday, Prof Harbison said the fatal stab wound had penetrated Mr O'Shaughnessy's heart and had come out the other side.
The trial continues on Monday.