THE STATE Pathologist has told a manslaughter trial that an Estonian man died due to blunt force trauma to his head and neck.
Prof Marie Cassidy told Michael Durack, prosecuting, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, that she carried out a postmortem on Valeri Ranert on April 30th, 2007, having received information from the coroner that the victim had collapsed following an apparent assault at 1.20 that morning.
He arrived at Beaumont Hospital 20 minutes later and was pronounced dead at 2.08am.
She said Mr Ranert was assessed on arrival at the hospital as having been point three on a coma scale, the lowest reading available, he was not breathing, and had no circulation, meaning he was in effect “dead on arrival”.
She examined his body externally and found multiple bruising, cuts and grazes on his head and neck, including honeycomb patterned bruises which she said suggested he had received a blow from the heel, sole or tip of a shoe. She found three such bruises on the victim’s forehead and scalp.
Prof Cassidy said dying “literally within minutes” of a head injury is very uncommon, and one possible cause of Mr Ranert’s death could have been brain filaments snapping due to the brain being rapidly moved backwards and forwards.
Prof Cassidy told Mr Durack that Mr Ranert had no defence-type injuries, which suggested he did not react to the kicks or blows.
Paul Gibbons (27), Moatview Drive, Priorswood, has pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Mr Ranert (27) at Naul Road, Swords, on April 30th, 2007. He has also pleaded not guilty to unlawfully seizing by force the Golf car belonging to Mr Ranert on the same occasion.
Mr Gibbons is alleged to be the driver of a car that arrived at a lay-by near Dublin airport.
Mr Durack had earlier told the jury it was not the State’s case that Mr Gibbons had got out of the car or was involved in the assault, but that this was a “joint enterprise”.
Michael O’Higgins, defending, told Prof Cassidy the defence was challenging none of her findings.
The trial continues before Judge Tony Hunt and a jury of six men and six women.