Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Woman's injuries not consistent with fall down the stairs, pathologist tells trial

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, Renars Veigulis (32) pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner, Rita Apine (29), who died on 14 May 2017. Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Apine's injuries were inconsistent with a simple fall down the stairs, as Veigulis claimed. She described extensive blood staining, shoeprints, and a blood‑stained slipper on the tenth step, but noted the house was otherwise neat. Apine died from massive blood loss due to blunt force trauma to the head, with three full‑thickness lacerations on the right side of her head of different shapes and impact surfaces, and bruising on both eyes and forearms. She also had therapeutic levels of citalopram and a tattoo reading "through pain comes strength." Dr Mulligan acknowledged some injuries could result from a fall but argued others could not be easily explained by such a fall.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman's injuries not consistent with fall down the stairs, pathologist tells 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 15, 2017 Other
• April 3, 2017 Other
• May 11 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2018-11-22 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report