Rebecca McKeown: Bleeding Was Caused By Injury
The Rebecca McKeown manslaughter trial has been told that the teenager had started to bleed due to a laceration injury, and there was no other cause.
The state pathologist for Northern Ireland, Professor Jack Crane, carried out a post mortem examination on the disabled teenager in March 2001.
He told the court that she died from pneumonia but blood loss from the laceration was “a significant contributing factor” to her death.
Her grandparents deny her manslaughter.
David and Sarah Johnston, who are 88 and 86, and from Carwood Drive in Newtownabbey, are also charged with child cruelty.
The 14-year-old died in hospital five days after the elderly couple had looked after her.
Giving evidence at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday, Professor Crane said, in his opinion, Rebecca was not menstruating in the days before her hospitalisation and death.
A prosecuting lawyer asked the professor what had caused the bleeding before GP Dr Mary Donnelly examined Rebecca at home.
The pathologist confirmed that he had found no cause for the bleeding other than the laceration.
Professor Crane also said that a bruise on Rebecca’s knee could have been caused by the knee being “forcibly grasped”.
The trial continues.
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