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No blood on toy said to have caused injury, child genital mutilation trial hears

Summary

In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a couple accused of mutilating their one‑year‑old daughter on 16 September 2016 pleaded not guilty to one count of female genital mutilation and one count of child cruelty. Dr John Hoade, a forensic scientist, testified that no blood was found on the toy the accused claimed caused the injury. He examined the scene on 23 September 2016, noting that a carpet area had been cleaned and that light blood staining was found only underneath the carpet and on the underlay. The DNA profile from that blood matched the complainant, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million of being unrelated. Hoade also examined knives, scissors and other tools, finding no blood on any of them. The trial will continue tomorrow with legal arguments before Judge Elma Sheahan, and a verdict is expected next Monday.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: No blood on toy said to have caused injury, child genital mutilation trial hears. Charges or matters: one count of child cruelty on the same day. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• September 16, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 23, 2016 Other
• 2019-11-21 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report