Jury in Martin Brophy trial sees photographs of accused’s hands

A jury in the trial of a Waterford man charged with murdering Martin Brophy have been shown photographs of swelling on the accused's hands taken on the same week that gardaí found Mr Brophy's body.

William Moran (20) of Connolly Place, Waterford is charged with murdering Martin Brophy (22) at a former Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) building between May 19th and May 21st, 2012.

Mr Moran has pleaded not guilty to the charge. He is currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

Garda Eugene O’Neill told prosecuting barrister Michael Delaney SC in court that he was asked to photograph the hands of the accused because his colleague had noticed swelling on them.

The garda told the jury that he took two photographs, one of Mr Moran’s left and right knuckles and another of his right knuckle on May 22nd, 2012.

Det Garda Emmett Dunphy, of Waterford Garda Station, also gave evidence today (Monday). He confirmed with the prosecution that he is a certified operator of the forensic XRY system, and that he examined a sim card found to be the property of William Moran.

The jury heard that, after being briefed in relation to a suspicious death at a disused WIT building in Waterford, a number of items were found on New Gate Street and Castle Street in the city by gardaí between May 22nd and 25th, 2012.

These items included the wrapper of a Devil's Bit cider bottle, two plastic flagons and a pair of Nike runners.

The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of four women and eight men.