Evil Stephen Cahoon admits killing pregnant woman carrying his child but denies her murder
A 43-YEAR-OLD man accused of murdering a woman in Derry in 2008 was likely to be the father of her unborn son, his trial in Dublin has heard.
Evil Stephen Cahoon, with an address at Harvey Street, Derry, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jean Teresa Quigley (30) at Cornshell Fields in the city.
He has pleaded guilty to her manslaughter.
Former State Pathologist in the North Professor Jack Crane told the Central Criminal Court that he visited the scene in July 2008.
He said Ms Quigley was naked, apart from a pair of socks, and her face was lying on a bloodstained duvet.
During a further examination in the mortuary, he found injuries including bruises on the front and back of the body.
“On the right side of the neck, the skin was pale and there was an abrasion to the right of the voice box which is sometimes seen where a fingernail has been pressed against the skin,” he said.
Professor Crane also described an area of “definite bruising” on the left side of the abdomen.
He said an examination showed Ms Quigley was about 10 weeks pregnant with a boy.
Jean Quigley was ten weeks pregant with a boy when she was murdered, a court hears
Her injuries suggested she had been strangled to death, he said.
He added: “Injuries, although non-specific, could have been caused by blows – possible punches and kicks.”
Under cross-examination, Prof Crane also said he was “not convinced” that bruising could have been caused by performing CPR.
Forensic scientist Matthew James Greenhalgh told the court that he carried out a paternity test to determine whether Mr Cahoon was the father of the unborn child.
“I performed calculations and it is 6,000 times more likely that Stephen Cahoon was the father – there is strong scientific support of this,” he said.
The trial continues.
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