Court hears victim had 19 'chop wounds' to the head

The State Pathologist has told the trial of a 21-year-old accused of murdering a man whose body was found in a ditch in north Dublin three years ago, that the deceased had 58 injuries to his body.

Michael Kinsella of Swiftbrook Close in Tallaght, and previously of Ardkeen, Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Adil Essalhi (31) at Tyrrelstown, Co.Dublin on January 6, 2011.

Today (Friday) Professor Marie Cassidy told the Central Criminal Court that Mr Essalhi’s body, which was discovered in a ditch some days after he died, had 58 separate injuries.

Prof Cassidy said there were 19 chop wounds to the skull and facial bones.

She told Mr Alex Owens SC prosecuting that there was evidence of post mortem burning and fire damage to his trunk, legs and left arm. 

She told the court that the chop wounds were both pre-mortem and peri-mortem and caused by something heavy. 

She said there was also evidence of post-mortem animal damage to the body. 

Prof Cassidy said that the cause of death was chop injuries to the head and upper neck as well as stab and incise wounds to the neck. 

She said toxicology showed an alcohol level of 261mg per cent in the blood and 543mg per cent in the urine, which she said suggested heavy drinking. Tramadol and Diazepam were also found in the toxicology tests. 

Prof Cassidy said she was also shown three weapons including a machete with a wooden handle and a broad blade.

She said that the machete or something similar could have caused the chop type injuries.

She said a kitchen knife she was shown with a broad blade or something similar could have caused the stab and incise wounds.

She told the court it was highly likely he sustained the head wounds while he was lying on the ground and he initially tried to defend himself.

Under cross-examination she told Mr Patrick Marrinan SC defending that two weapons being used did not mean there were two attackers.

She also agreed that she could not say if he was dead when the chop injuries were inflicted but said he was “certainly close to death”.

Prof Cassidy further agreed that the chops were an attempt to mutilate and disfigure the body.

In his opening address to the jury, Mr Alex Owens SC, for the State, said it was the prosecution’s case that the accused and his uncle Wayne Kinsella believed Mr Essalhi was involved in the death of Wayne’s brother Lee.

He said Mr Essalhi was “done to death” in fields behind Tyrrelstown Plaza and two weapons were used including a machete and a sharp instrument such as a knife.

The trial continues.