An Inverness businessman who collapsed and died after a canine lead assault by his neighbour had such important coronary heart illness he may have had a coronary heart assault at any time.
However a forensic pathologist who carried out a autopsy with a colleague on 55-year-old storage proprietor John Birrell the day after his loss of life on August 17, 2020 stated that “there may very well be a hyperlink” between the annoying altercation he had and his cardiac arrest.
Dr Leighanne Deboys was giving proof within the third day of the Excessive Courtroom trial in Inverness of 66-year-old retired eye surgeon Hamish Towler, of the Blackpark space of Inverness.
Towler denies the culpable murder of Mr Birrell by blocking the Birrell’s van’s path, hitting it with the canine lead, earlier than placing Mr Birrell with it on the face.
It’s acknowledged Mr Birrell suffered a cardiac arrest and died because of this.
Towler additionally denies a breach of a bail situation proscribing his actions on the entry street to their neighbouring properties.
Towler, who’s represented by Shelagh McCall KC, has lodged a particular defence of self-defence.
He claims Mr Birrell verbally abused him and punched him a number of instances.
Dr Deboys stated: “A stress response is the place the adrenaline will increase which will get the center fee growing however there may be inadequate oxygen and this may set off a cardiac response.
“He had such coronary heart illness that he may have had a coronary heart assault at any time. However extra pressure is positioned on the center in annoying conditions.”
Underneath cross examination by Ms McCall, she stated she may discover no accidents on Mr Birrell in line with a blow by a canine result in his face or a punch to his abdomen which has been alleged by members of the family in earlier proof.
The physician additionally agreed that Mr Birrell may have had an attack-causing blood clot which wasn’t discovered as it could have been cleared by the CPR utilized after his collapse on the patio of his residence.
She additionally confirmed that Mr Birrell may have had a sudden rhythm downside together with his coronary heart which once more, Dr Deboys stated, she wouldn’t have found proof of autopsy.
The trial earlier than Lord Fairley won’t sit on Monday and resumes on Tuesday.
