Gaynor murder trial hears ballistics evidence
A murder trial has heard a bullet taken from the deceased’s body could not be linked to the gun retrieved near the scene.
Keith Wilson (aged 23), of Cremona Road, Ballyfermot has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Daniel Gaynor at St. Helena’s Road in Finglas on August 14, 2010.
He has also pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Ballistics specialist Detective Garda David O’ Leary told Mr Brendan Grehan SC defending, the bullet taken from Mr Gaynor's neck was too badly damaged to link it to a Sturm Ruger SP101 revolver found near the scene.
“It is not possible for you to definitively link it to the gun? ” Mr Grehan put it to him under cross-examination.
“It was too badly damaged…but it’s not possible to eliminate it,” Det Gda O’ Leary replied.
He told Mr Alex Owens SC for the state, the bullets he received for examination were made of plain solid lead and that they had no copper or metal surround.
Det Gda O’ Leary said there were three discharged cases, one live and one misfired.
“In my opinion the order would have been one misfire and three discharges -audibly a click and three bangs,” he told the court.
He said the shells discharged had been from that kind of firearm but it was not possible to say if it came from that particular weapon.
Det Gda O’ Leary said there were holes in the gun as the last digits of its serial number had been drilled.
He told Mr Grehan if you drill through the metal you cannot retrieve the digits whereas if it is filed off it is possible to do so.
Det Gda O’ Leary also said a gun with drill holes in it would leave an impression on the bullets it discharged.
He said the bullet found in the deceased was similar to the bullet in the live round found in the gun.
Detective Sergeant Alan Brady gave evidence of arresting Mr Wilson on November 7, 2010 at Dublin Airport in relation to the shooting of Daniel Gaynor.
He told Mr Owens, Mr Wilson gave a date of birth of June 6, 1988 and he was detained at Finglas Garda Station for one or two days.
The trial continues tomorrow before a jury of seven men and five women, presided over by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan.
