The Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, told a murder trial yesterday that a woman found naked in a ditch in the Dublin mountains died of strangulation.
Mr Philip Colgan (27), of Crannagh Castle, Rathfarnham, Co Dublin, has denied that on or about March 2nd, 1999, he murdered Ms Layla Brennan (24), of Moorefield Green, Ronanstown, Co Dublin.
Dr Marie Cassidy told the court Ms Brennan was found in an incline in a wooded area, mostly naked except for a shoe and sock and a tightly-secured bra around her neck knotted at the back. Her body was covered in scratches and scrapes caused by her being dragged or carried through brambles.
Dr Cassidy said Ms Brennan had suffered hypothermia prior to her death but had died from lack of oxygen to the brain caused by asphyxiation by manual and ligature strangulation.
She said an incline in Ms Brennan's skull was consistent with having suffered blunt force trauma which may have been caused by an implement similar to a wheel brace which was produced in court.
The court later heard the brace was found by Det Garda Paul Smith from Tallaght Detective Unit in a bin adjacent to Mr Colgan's house. The implement was retrieved from a black bag which also contained pieces of bloodstained clothing belonging to Ms Brennan.
In a memorandum, Det Sgt Cyril Claffey, of Rathfarnham Garda station, told the court the accused had admitted the killing. The notes, read out in court, stated Mr Colgan was asked if when he started hitting Ms Brennan did he mean to kill her. The notes state he replied: "No . . . but once I hit her I knew I had to kill her."
Asked why this was so, Mr Colgan allegedly replied: "Because she told me she had the registration of my car and she'd go to the guards."
Asked why he kept squeezing her neck, the notes said: "I was afraid I would end up back in jail."
The trial continues.