Renars Veigulis denies murder charge as trial hears blood evidence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Renars Veigulis has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering his partner, Rita Apine, at their home on Old Bridge Street, Freshford, County Kilkenny, on or about 14 May 2017.

The proceedings were reported on 21 November 2018. The trial was continuing before Ms Justice Tara Burns.

Veigulis told ambulance staff that Apine had fallen down the stairs. Prosecuting lawyers told the jury it would hear evidence that her injuries were inconsistent with a fall.

Forensic scientist Sandra McGrath gave evidence on 21 November that blood spatter on Veigulis’ white hooded top was more likely due to a strike than CPR or expiration from the body.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Michael Bowman SC, McGrath accepted that a “strike” meant the application of force to wet blood. Bowman said he did not want the jury to get a picture of someone striking a person. McGrath also accepted that separate contact staining could be caused by cradling someone in one’s arms.