The trial of a man accused of murdering his wife ten years ago was told that the dead woman was found with a tie tied tightly around her neck, the Central Criminal Court heard.
John Diver (65), Kilnamanagh Road, Walkinstown, Dublin denies murdering his wife Geraldine (42) at Robinhood Road, Clondalkin on December 2nd 1996.
The Central Criminal Court heard several witnesses today say that Geraldine Diver was found in her car parked outside the gates of Buckley's builders providers with a tie wound tightly around her neck.
Rodney Bray, who was employed by a security guard, said that he noticed the car after he had checked builder's providers around 10.40pm.
In response to counsel for the prosecution Edward Comyn SC, Mr Bray said he checked the premises on two previous occasions that night, but did not notice that particular car.
The witness said he went and found a middle-aged woman in the drivers seat. She was not conscious, and had something tied around her neck.
"The underneath of the car was dry," he said, adding that it had started to rain around 10pm that night.
The engine of the car was still running and he turned it off. He then immediately radioed for assistance, and remained on the scene.
Under cross-examination from counsel for the defence, Brendan Grehan SC, Mr Bray agreed that the area was well lit up.
Detective Garda William Browne said there did not appear to signs of a struggle at the scene.
In response to prosecuting counsel Shane Murphy SC, he said that when he first arrived on the scene he noticed that Mrs Diver's hands were by her sides, and her feet were on the pedals of the car.
On the night in question he had been visiting a friend in the area, and went to assist Mr Bray.
The detective said that Mrs Diver, a mother of two, was sitting upright, and there was a small amount of blood coming from her nostril.
He added that while her clothing was intact Mrs Diver's top had been pulled up and her breasts were exposed.
Henry Harding a security officer at premises close to where Mrs Diver was found, said that he went to scene with the detective.
"Mrs Diver appeared to be dead, as there was no movement," he said.
The jury of five women and seven men also heard from fire-fighter Frank McDonald, who was staffing the ambulance that arrived on the scene.
The tie around Mrs Diver's neck was wound tightly around her and the headrest on the drivers seat.
"At first I thought it was a pair of tights," he said, but then realised it was a grey tie.
He saw the blood on her face, he added that that Mrs Diver's tongue was sticking out, her pupils were dilated and there was neither a response to light, nor a pulse.
She was placed in the ambulance and brought to St James Hospital.
His colleague Thomas Doolan said they performed a number of medical procedures on Mrs Diver, but it was to no avail.
The trial before Justice Philip O'Sullivan is expected to last two weeks.