Injuries to the body of Phyllis Murphy, the young Kildare woman found naked and strangled in a wooded area near the Wicklow Gap more than 22 years ago, were consistent with rape, the State Pathologist has told the trial of a former army sergeant accused of her murder.
Ms Murphy had 25 injuries to her body, including bruising and abrasions to her head, face, neck, chest, arms and legs, Dr John Harbison said, but she died from manual strangulation.
In the Central Criminal Court Mr John Crerar (54), of Woodside Park, Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Murphy (23), known as Phyllis, on a date unknown between December 22nd, 1979, and January 18th, 1980.
Ms Murphy's body was found at the base of a spruce tree in a forested area at Ballinagee, close to the Turlough Hill power station and the Wicklow Gap.
The prosecution alleges that the re-examination of blood and other samples taken at the time of the killing points to Mr Crerar's guilt. His lawyers are contesting the alleged new evidence.
Ms Murphy, who was just over five feet in height, had defensive injuries on her arms and wrist, a post-mortem examination by Dr Harbison showed. This suggested that she probably tried to ward off blows from her attacker, he told the trial yesterday.
"My conclusion was that Phyllis Murphy died from manual strangulation, that is, the compression of her neck by a hand or hands - in other words by both hands or just the one", he said.
However, the mechanism of strangulation could vary, he said. "In the case of Ms Murphy, if it's any consolation to her family, I consider that she probably died of vagal inhibition. This is a sudden stoppage of the heart caused by compression of the vagal nerve."
The pathologist told Mr Michael Durack SC, prosecuting, that bruising on the inside of the thighs and knees was "consistent with forcible parting of the legs, in other words consistent with an attempt to rape." He found that bruising in Ms Murphy's pelvic region was consistent with her having been raped.
The jury was sent away until next Wednesday. Mr Justice McKechnie told them there were legal issues to be debated in their absence on which he may have to give rulings.