MURDER ACCUSED HAD ‘MARKS AND BRUISES’ Court hears of scene at dead OAP’S home
A MAN accused of murdering a 90-year-old had injuries including marks on his hands and bruising to the inside of his thigh, a trial jury has heard.
Ross Outram, 28, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering Paddy Lyons at Loughleagh, Co Waterford.
Giving evidence yesterday, Det Gda Joe Wyse told prosecutor John O’kelly he went to the home on February 25, 2017, after he was made aware there were suspicious circumstances surrounding a sudden death at the home.
There was a damaged padlock on the ground at the entrance to Mr Lyons’ property and “skid marks” were visible outside his house.
The witness said he observed what he believed to be fingermarks on the front door of the house and there was a “blood-like substance” around these marks. Det Gda Wyse said he did not go into the house but paramedics told him Mr Lyons had a “deep laceration” to his head.
However, the witness said he looked in the front door where he saw an elderly male “slumped” in a chair, which faced the entrance.
Det Gda Wyse said he then went around the back of the house and looked in a “rear window” where he saw a phone with a blood-like substance on it.
The witness added he took photographs of Outram’s injuries in Dungarvan Garda station on February 28.
He agreed with Mr O’kelly that the first photo showed “a mark” on the knuckle of Outram’s middle finger on his left hand.
Det Gda Wyse further agreed the second photo showed bruising and a scrape to the inside of the accused’s left thigh and another photo showed “a cut” to the knuckle of Outram’s index finger on his right hand.
Det Gda Martin Keohane testified he went to Mr Lyons’ house on February 25 where he noted a “fingerprint in blood” above the handle of the front door as well as blood-staining on the wall inside the door. He added he arrested Outram, of Ferryland, Waterford Road, Clonmel, Co Tipperary on suspicion of Mr Lyons’ murder on February 27 and took a Samsung phone, €160 in cash and a set of keys from him. Det Gda Shay Keevans gave evidence that he searched the accused’s house in the aftermath of his arrest.
The witness said a blue Volkswagen Passat was concealed at the rear of his house and no number plates were displayed on the car.
There was damage to the front bumper as well as to the sides of the vehicle.
Furthermore, the witness said a grey hoodie with “possible bloodstains” was found in the accused’s bedroom during the search and he later became aware that Mr Lyons’ DNA was on this hoodie.
The trial continues.
Amount of cash Ross Outram had when he was arrested