Damien Heagney: ‘Residual piece of metal’ found in murder victim’s skull

The pathologist said, during an examination of the head, there were a number of “defects or slit like defects within the skin, in proximity to the left ear, and these looked very much like stab wounds”.

“Further slits and defects were then identified on the back of the head and again these were consistent with stab wounds,” he added.

During questioning from a prosecution lawyer, Dr Lynas told the court there were “multiple defects within the outer surface of the skull” and in “one of them there was a residual piece of metal”.

“The piece of metal was triangular shaped, silver in colour and certainly was potentially consistent with the tip of a blade from a knife, having sheared or broken off and embedded within the skull.”

He told the court “none of the defects or indeed the blade tip …passed through the full thickness of the skull”.

He added: “So therefore if these wounds had occurred during life they may have bled, but would not have immediately proved life threatening.”

Dr Lynas also said there “were some defects within the skin of the left armpit, the left elbow and little finger side of the left forearm and these were suggestive of additional stab wounds”.

However, he added that he couldn’t exclude the possibility they occurred after death.

The pathologist said in his opinion the “dismemberment” of Mr Heagney’s body occurred after death.

He also agreed with a prosecution lawyer it was “more likely” his death was caused by “some unnatural event”.