Inquest opens into death of woman found in bath

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 16:09 · Archive

An inquest has heard how a 31-year-old woman was found dead in an overflowing bath at her home in Lurgan in April 2016.

An inquest into the death of Laura Marshall, a 31-year-old dental nurse, opened at Laganside Courthouse in Belfast on Thursday. Her bruised body was discovered in an overflowing bath at her flat in Victoria Street, Lurgan, in April 2016. A maintenance man investigating a water leak in the block of flats found her lying partially submerged with the water still running.

According to the inquest testimony, another resident had complained about water pouring through his ceiling. The maintenance man forced open the lock on Marshall's flat door after finding it loose. He described finding the floor mat in the hall sodden and the bathroom door handle lying on the hall floor with no spindle in the lock.

A police officer who attended the scene told the inquest he believed a violent assault had taken place. The officer said he had formed a 'working hypothesis' that the death 'had the hallmarks of domestic-related murder'. A pathologist, Jack Crane, concluded Marshall died by drowning, with her injuries 'more likely to have been sustained in an assault rather than being accidental injuries'.

Marshall had lived in the flat with her partner, Gary O'Dowd, 38, from Banbridge. The inquest heard their relationship had been 'difficult' and Marshall had made a number of complaints of domestic violence against him. Weeks before her death, O'Dowd had been charged with assault and threats to kill, but Marshall decided to drop those charges.

O'Dowd was arrested and charged with Marshall's murder, which he denied. Two years later, the Public Prosecution Service decided to withdraw all charges against him. The coroner said the inquest proceedings are not designed to attribute blame to any individual.

How it is being reported

• Body of dental nurse found bruised and submerged in bath, inquest hearsThe barrister said pathologist Jack Crane was of the view Ms Marshall had died by drowning, and her injuries “were more likely to have been sustained in an assault rather than being accidental injuries”.Belfast Live · 8 Oct, 15:42
• Woman found dead in overflowing bath by man investigating leak, inquest hearsLaura Marshall's body was discovered in an overflowing bath at her home in April 2016.BBC Northern Ireland · 8 Oct, 15:37
• Inquest told of discovery of Laura Marshall’s bruised body in bathBelfast Telegraph · 8 Oct, 14:33

In this story: Laura Marshall · Gary O'Dowd · Lurgan · Banbridge · Laganside Courthouse · Public Prosecution Service

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