Northern Ireland

Sister of murder victim Marcell Seeley 'found his body in pool of blood'

Murder victim Marcell Seeley
Murder victim Marcell Seeley Murder victim Marcell Seeley

THE sister of a Co Armagh man who was murdered in his flat wept yesterday as she described how she discovered his body in a pool of blood.

The body of Marcell Seeley (34) was found in the living room of his flat in Lurgan on the morning of October 13 2015.

Mr Seeley's mother had raised concerns he had not been seen for several days, prompting his older sister Carrai Doran to call at his Dingwell Park home in the Tagnaven estate.

When she was not able to open the front door, she asked local residents for help. After the front door was pushed in, one entered the flat before coming back out and telling Ms Doran: "You don't want to see this".

Breaking down in tears, she told the jury at Belfast Crown Court that she pushed past the man, walked into the living room and ended up standing right beside her brother's body.

"He was lying with his head turned away from the living room and there was blood on the back of his head, and down onto the floor," she said.

"It came from his head down. There was a pool of blood on the ground."

Asked if she checked to see if her brother was still alive, Ms Doran said: "I touched his hand and I knew straight away that he wasn't".

Standing trial is Mark Daniel Ward, who denies murdering the father-of-four in or around October 11 2015.

Ward (25), from Drumellan Gardens in Craigavon, was interviewed by police a few days after Mr Seeley's remains were discovered.

He gave a largely 'no comment' response during interviews, but confirmed he knew Mr Seeley and had drunk with him for around 10 years.

He also confirmed he had been in Mr Seeley's flat, but refused to tell police the last time he was there.

The victim - described in court as an alcoholic - died from blunt force trauma to the head consistent with kicking or stamping.

A pathologist concluded he would have survived for several hours after the head injuries were inflicted.

Mr Seeley suffered multiple head injuries, injuries to his neck and voicebox, two fractured ribs associated with forceful blows, stamps or kicks as well as bruises and abrasions to his upper body, legs and arms.

A neighbour of Mr Seeley's who lived in a block of flats opposite the murder scene said he spoke to Ward on the morning of Sunday October 11, 2015.

He said Ward appeared to be "heavily intoxicated", mentioned Mr Seeley, talked about 'punching Junior' and spoke about blood coming from an ear - claims Ward denies.

Crown prosecutor David McDowell said several footprints were found on an envelope beside Mr Seeley's body, on a belt, on his shirt and on several areas on the floor.

A footwear expert - who will be called to give evidence later in the trial - concluded that a footprint on Mr Seeley's shoulder was caused by a size nine Base London trainer.

Mr McDowell said it was the Crown's case that Ward was wearing a pair of size nine Base London trainers and that these shoes have never been recovered.

He said a cigarette butt with Ward's DNA was located in Mr Seeley's living room.

At hearing.