The State Pathologist has told the trial of a man accused of murdering his ex-fiancee’s baby that trauma suffered by the infant “highly suggested a shaking incident”.
Philip Doyle (34) of Tinakilly, Aughrim, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering 3½-month-old Ross Murphy at Creagh Demesne, Gorey, Co Wexford, on April 5th, 2005.
Leona Murphy (28) previously told the court that on April 3rd she went out, leaving her baby alone with Mr Doyle in the house they shared at Creagh Demesne.
It is the State’s case that the trauma that caused the death of the child was inflicted two days before the infant died at Our Lady’s hospital in Crumlin on April 5th.
Yesterday Prof Marie Cassidy told Tom O’Connell, prosecuting, she concluded the baby had died from brain trauma.
When she conducted the autopsy on April 6th she was careful in distinguishing injuries from medical intervention marks. There was widespread blunt trauma including bruises on the trunk, leg, hands and head.