Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Blood-staining points to assault, expert tells staircase murder trial

Summary

In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, forensic scientist Dr Stephen Doak testified that the blood‑staining patterns at the scene of Rita Apine's death suggested an assault rather than a simple fall. He described contact‑staining, splatter, airborne blood, swipe patterns and cast‑off blood on the walls and floor beside the stairs, noting a large area of wet blood that had been wiped up and a missing area revealed by luminol. Dr Doak argued that the patterns indicated a forceful event and that the accused, Renars Veigulis, had attempted to clean up the blood. Veigulis, aged 32, pleaded not guilty to murdering Apine, aged 29, at their Freshford home on or about 14 May 2017. The trial continues before a jury presided by Ms Justice Tara Burns.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Blood-staining points to assault, expert tells staircase murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering Rita Apine (29) at their home on or about May 14, 2017. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 14, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 14 Other
• May 17 Incident
• 2018-11-20 Publication

Why: He agreed under cross-examination from Michael Bowman SC, for the defence, that his view was that the blood-staining had occurred because an energetic event had taken place which was more consistent with an assault than one falling down the stairs. Defence account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report