A LIMERICK man died from loss of blood after stab wounds in the chest and abdomen, a murder trial jury heard yesterday.
The State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, said that Mr Johnny Collins died from shock and haemorrhage leading to loss of blood pressure and brain malfunction.
He said that Mr Collins suffered three stab wounds to the chest, abdomen and left thigh. The wound in the abdomen damaged major blood vessels and the one in the chest penetrated the liver.
The wounds in the chest and abdomen were internal and it would be hard to decide which caused more blood loss, he said.
He was giving evidence on the second day of the trial at the Central Criminal Court of Mr Michael O'Callaghan (23), a father of one, of O'Malley Park, Limerick. He has denied the murder of Mr Collins, then aged 30 and a father of two, at O'Malley Park on August 2nd, 1994.
Dr Harbison told Mr Michael McMahon SC, prosecuting, that he carried out a post mortem examination on the body of Mr Collins at the Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick, on August 2nd, 1994.
There was a stab wound over the lower part of the rib cage which was 1 1/8 inches long. A second in the lower abdomen was 1 1/4 inches and a third in the left thigh was 1 1/2 inches long.
He believed the wounds were caused by a single edged blade.
Mr Collins's chest contained 1 3/4 pints of blood and his right lung had collapsed from its pressure.
The knife had penetrated between the ribs and for three inches into the liver, causing serious injury to the liver and severing veins and arteries.
Dr Harbison said that Mr Collins did not have any defensive injuries, and this indicated that he was taken by surprise.
Cross examined by Mr Barry White SC, defending, Dr Harbison said there was "a likelihood" that all three stab wounds were caused by the same blade. Anyone receiving the stab wounds to the abdomen and chest would have been able to run for a short time, he added.
Earlier Mr John Kiely told Mr White under cross examination that he did not see if the accused man had a knife after he pulled him off Mr Collins. He also said he had not seen Mr O'Callaghan standing over Mr Collins and repeatedly stabbing him.
Mr Kiely said he had not seen Mr Collins throw any punches on the night of the incident and denied that he had seen the accused on the ground outside the Collins house.
The prosecution has claimed that Mr O'Callaghan stabbed Mr Collins, who lived opposite him, in "a mindless and motiveless attack".
The trial before Mr Justice Geoghegan is continuing.