Courts / Cork / Report

Blade went through heart from front to back, jury hears

Summary

In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Brian Veale, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Graham Johnson, a 42‑year‑old inmate, at Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Johnson died from a single stab wound to the front of his chest, which penetrated the sternum, sliced through the ribs, and went straight through the heart from front to back, causing haemorrhages to the heart and aorta. The wound was 12 cm below the breastbone, 6 cm wide, and extended onto the left side of the chest. Veale and Johnson were known to each other and were working in the prison kitchen when a verbal altercation over a television channel occurred around 3 pm. After the quarrel ended, Veale allegedly returned to the kitchen with a knife and stabbed Johnson sometime after 5 pm.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Blade went through heart from front to back, jury hears. Charges or matters: murdering Graham Johnson at Cork Prison, Rathmore Road in Cork City on May 16, 2015. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 16, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 17 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 16 Other
• 2016-10-21 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report