A YOUNG man died from a combination of bleeding into the chest and an accumulation of blood caused by a single stab wound in the heart, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
The State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of Mr Patrick Foley (17), who denies murdering his step brother Thomas O'Sullivan (20) at their home at Richmount Court, Bandon, Co Cork, last July 1st.
In court yesterday Dr Harbison told Mr Gregory Murphy SC, prosecuting, he carried out a post mortem on the body of Mr O'Sullivan at Cork Regional Hospital on July 1st last year. He noted a stab wound over the heart which was consistent with having being inflicted by a knife shown to him by gardai.
He concluded that Mr O'Sullivan died from a combination of bleeding into the chest and the accumulation of blood around the heart. These findings were due to a single stab wound to the heart.
He found some bleeding or bruising beneath a graze over the left shoulder blade which could account for the deceased having sustained one kick. He formed the impression that the grazes on the upper left side of the back were consistent with having been dragged on the ground.
The deceased man's blood alcohol limit was 353 mg per 100 ml, which was three times the legal limit for driving.
Dr Harbison agreed with Mr Barry White SC, defending, that this was consistent with the deceased having been drinking over several hours and could still have been drinking at the time of death.
He agreed the superficial injuries on the body were consistent with the deceased staggering against objects and coming into contact with the ground.
He agreed it was possible that if the defendant was holding the knife in a certain position and he had fallen forward then it could have gone into Mr O'Sullivan's chest.
Dr Harbison told Mr Murphy it was more difficult to visualise the blade going in to a depth of up to six inches in the same circumstances.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Johnson and a Jury.
A verdict is expected today.