Murder accused ‘performed CPR on dying stab victim’
A WOMAN accused of murdering a man in Londonderry applied CPR to the victim after she had contacted the emergency services, a court has heard.
Shauna Louise Piper appeared at Derry Magistrates Court yesterday charged with killing Darren Mcnally.
The 46-year-old was stabbed in his home at Duncastle Road in the village of Newbuildings on the outskirts of Derry on Monday.
The court heard claims that the accused was allegedly the victim of domestic abuse.
Piper (41), from Primity Terrace in Newbuildings, appeared at a video link hearing yesterday charged with Mr Mcnally’s murder and with possessing a knife with intent to commit murder. She denies both charges. When the defendant, who wore a hygienic mask during the hearing, was asked if she understood the charges, she replied “I do”.
A detective constable told District Judge Ted Magill that she was fully aware of the circumstances of the case and said she could connect the defendant to both charges.
Questioned by defence solicitor Ciaran Shiels, the police witness confirmed that the defendant replied “definitely not guilty” when the charges were put to her while in police custody.
When Mr Shiels asked if “a number of statements have been recorded by the Serious Crime Branch from the defendant’s family and neighbours which attest to the defendant being the victim of domestic abuse”, the officer replied that was the case.
The officer also confirmed, when it was put to her by Mr Shiels, that “the wound inflicted on the deceased was one single stab wound to the back which pierced the lung and there were no other injuries”.
The detective constable further agreed with Mr Shiels that “the defendant dialled the emergency services and acted under the close direction of the emergency services in terms of applying CPR to the deceased and was commended by the police for the CPR she applied to the victim”.
There was no bail application and the defendant was remanded in custody until July 8.
Mr Shiels said that if he was going to bring forward a bail application in the interim, he would inform the court office.
A death notice said Mr Mcnally’s funeral will take price tomorrow, followed by burial in Ballyoan Cemetery.
In line with current government guidelines, the funeral is restricted to immediate family only.