Bullet 'came from slightly behind victim's head', court hears
A Dublin murder trial has heard that the deceased died as a result of "laceration of the brain and inter-cranial haemorrhage due to a gunshot wound".
Dr Declan Gilsenan, the pathologist who examined the body of Coolock man Declan Griffin (aged 32), was giving evidence in the trial of Shay Wildes, who denies murdering him.
The 37-year-old from Corbally Park in Tallaght has pleaded not guilty to the unemployed man’s murder on Saturday April 5, 2003 in the Horse and Jockey pub, in Inchicore.
Dr Gilsenan told the Central Criminal Court that the bullet entry wound was one centimetre in diameter and just above the ear. He estimated the bullet had come from slightly behind the dead man’s head.
The wound was surrounded by speckling of the skin made by particles from the weapon other than the bullet. "This indicated the gun was fired at close range, less than a foot, probably two to three inches," explained the pathologist.
The witness said there was extensive haemorrhage under the scalp and right temple muscle, bleeding between the coverings of the brain and extensive laceration behind the right hand side of the eye. "There was also accumulation of fluid and swelling of the brain," he added.
Dr Gilsenan found a crack in the skull as a result of the wound, bony fragments around the fracture of the temple bone and laceration of the wall of the right sinus.
The jury heard that the bullet travelled over half way through the head, almost to the other ear and that Mr Griffin had inhaled a lot of blood.
A ballistics expert showed the jury the bulky front and rear panels of the bulletproof vest, which Mr Griffin was wearing when shot in the head.
Detective Garda Shane Henry said it would be considered an overvest and was designed to protect the wearer from a .38 projectile.
The jury was also shown the pistol found on Mr Griffin after his death. The detective demonstrated how to load the magazine, which can hold 10 to 12 bullets, into the 2.2lb gun.
The trial continues on Friday before Mr Justice O’Sullivan and a jury of seven men and five women.
