A woman was killed by asphyxiation after something pressed down on her chin and neck, the State Pathologist told a murder trial yesterday. Prof John Harbison said Miriam O'Donohoe died after someone or something pressed on her larynx and she may have tried to defend herself by lowering her chin.
He said there was nothing near the body to suggest that she had been killed accidentally.
It was the 10th day of the trial of Mr Paul O'Donohoe (44), Aberdeen Street, Dublin, who denies the murder or manslaughter of his estranged wife, Miriam (42), at her home in Ashfield Gardens, Mulhuddart, Co Dublin, on January 25th, 1997. Prosecutors allege Mr O'Donohoe murdered his wife and threw objects around her house to make it look as if it had been burgled.
Prof Harbison told Mr Michael Durack SC, prosecuting, there were injuries to Ms O'Donohoe's tongue and that the larynx was not badly damaged. There was bruising in her scalp with bleeding into nearby tissue. Prof Harbison believed Ms O'Donohoe had died between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. the day before her body was discovered.
Cross-examined Mr Hugh Hartnett SC, defending, he said people could asphyxiate accidentally if they fell against a hard object. He agreed there were no marks that strongly suggested that Ms O'Donohoe had been strangled by someone's hands but said pressure had been applied to her neck.
Mr Paul Ross said he was in a neighbouring house soon after the body was discovered. Mr O'Donohoe was there with his two children and appeared calm. Mr O'Donohoe spoke to his sister on his mobile phone for less than 10 seconds and said something like: "You'd better come over, Miriam is dead." Mr O'Donohoe's sister arrived later.