THE naked and battered body of a 15-year-old girl was found in a Dublin convent garden by her boyfriend who later admitted he had struck her with a stone on the head, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Keith Kelly (19), of Colepark Drive, Ballyfermot, Dublin, told gardai he hit Melanie Gleeson "three times at the tops across the side of the face and across the head" on Hallowe'en night, 1995, after she told him she had had sex with another man.
"This all started after we finished intercourse," he said in a statement. "I asked her did she have sex with X. She said to me that she did. I heard a rumour that she was doing it behind my back with him and I heard she was pregnant.
"I asked her was she pregnant by him and she said that it was only a rumour going around." Kelly said "a bit of a row started then" and he said he had picked up a stone and hit her.
"I could see blood coming out her head and then I got the scare," he said. Before he picked up the stone, he said he had his hands around her neck. "She was swinging at me and I grabbed her by the neck, holding her down."
He said when she was bleeding Melanie had said something to him like, "You're thick or an eejit". He said it was their first argument and he had "a lot to drink". While he was walking down his own road he thought about Melanie and started going back but "just hadn't the bottle" and returned home.
"When I left Melanie she was still alive. I didn't think she was dead at the time."
At the opening of his trial yesterday, Kelly pleaded not guilty to the murder of Melanie Gleeson (15) on October 31st, 1995. He admitted to manslaughter.
Mr Patrick MacEntee SC, defending, said he had instructions from his client to admit the facts of the cafe. He read out a lengthy list of admissions including one from Kelly that he killed Ms Gleeson. Mr MacEntee said the case was about "provocation".
Opening the case for the prosecution, Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC said it was not disputed that Keith Kelly killed Melanie Gleeson unlawfully.
Gardai went to the convent grounds in response to a 999 call the next morning and found the body with severe head injuries.
Counsel said Kelly told gardai he had found the body and had put his coat over it. He said he had come to look for a horse and had found the body. He told gardai he used to go out with her. He was very upset and in shock.
Gardai asked Kelly to make a witness statement and he agreed to go to the station to do so. Initially, he did not admit killing Melanie, counsel said. He had told gardai he saw Melanie at 9.30 p.m. on October 31st and said her face was bloody and she told him she had been hit by another man.
Mr Vaughan Buckley said the evidence of the state Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, was extremely important; that Dr Harbison would say Ms Gleeson sustained extremely severe head injuries consistent with high velocity injuries such as in a road accident or being crushed with a heavy weight.
There would be evidence from two young men that they heard a scream from the convent grounds on that night.
Counsel said the defence of provocation might be opened in the case, but the prosecution would contend there was more than enough evidence on which they could return a verdict of guilty of murder.
Garda Brian Moran said he found the body and spoke to Kelly, who was crying and appeared, to be in shock. He said he had found the body.
Del Sgt Gabriel O'Gara said he spoke with Kelly in the convent grounds and Kelly had agreed to make a witness statement. He did not suspect Kelly of the killing. Later, he noticed blood on Kelly's runner and Kelly agreed to hand over his shoes and trousers.
He later became aware that Kelly had told other gardai he had seen Ms Gleeson the previous night and had said she had blood on her face. This was different from what he had said earlier and he had asked Kelly if what he had said was true.
At that point, Kelly had put his head down. Then he had started to cry. He calmed down after a time and said: "I didn't mean it, I didn't mean it, I was with Melanie.
Del Sgt O'Gara said Kelly was cautioned but had said: "I understand but I feel like a scumbag. I want to get this over with." He was asked did he want his parents contacted and, had said: "No, I want to get this over with."
Kelly had later made a number of statements about the death and had also shown gardai an area where a cider can was found and a place along the River Liffey where he said he had thrown a stone into the river.
Kelly initially said he had hit Melanie with a can of cider but later said he had hit her with a stone, the witness said.
Del Sgt O'Gara said Kelly was co-operative with gardai and did his best to say what had happened.
Mr MacEntee said Kelly had had a lot to drink on October 31st, 1995, including two bottles of wine in the afternoon and a lot of beer that night.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Flood and a jury.