Tina Satchwell's cause of death couldn't be determined due to skeletal nature of remains, husband's murder trial hears

The Irish Sun

20-05-2025

TINA Satchwell's body was found wrapped in a soiled sheet and black plastic, her husband's murder trial heard today.
And her cause of death could not be determined due to the skeletal nature of her remains after they were found buried at her
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Tina's remains were discovered under the living room stairs in 2023
Credit: Collect
She also revealed a dressing gown belt had been knotted to the front of the 45-year-old's chest in a 'very unusual position', which the expert witness said is very often used for carrying a body.
Her husband, Richard
The Central Criminal
Dr Bolster said she went to the home on October 12, 2023, where the deceased's skeletal remains were uncovered from a hole with a depth of approximately 62cm.
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She told prosecutor Gerardine Small SC her remains, which looked to be in a considerable state of 'longstanding disarray', were discovered lying face down in what was ­effectively a grave.
Dr Bolster conducted an autopsy on the night of October 12, which continued into the morning of October 13, at Cork city mortuary.
She said Tina had been wearing pyjamas, which were covered by a dressing gown from
It it had been wrapped in a soiled sheet, which appeared to be a bed sheet. On top of that, it was covered in a layer of black plastic.
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DRESSING GOWN BELT
A gold-coloured Playboy-branded purse had been removed from the left pocket of the dressing gown.
Cards in Tina's name were inside.
Dr Bolster said she cut the belt of the dressing gown to remove it and it hadn't been previously cut.
It wasn't threaded through the garment's loops and was instead extended over the left side of the neck, under the right shoulder and arm, under the body and then knotted on the front of the chest.
The witness said the dressing gown top had disintegrated and multiple ribs and vertebrae had come apart through decomposition.
She told the jury the skull had separated from the rest of the body as a result of the natural process of decomposition.
One of the arms and femurs had also been disarticulated.
And Dr Bolster explained there was formation of 'adipocere' on parts of the remains, which forms in decomposing tissue in warm and moist environments.
GLASS SHARDS
The expert witness testified that four pieces of glass were taken from Tina's scalp and five from the rest of the body.
But asked if it was possible the glass came from the sheet, she said she could not say.
The witness said part of the body had been skeletonised and she could not identify external marks and injuries due to this.
And Dr Bolster said an internal examination was not applicable as there were no remaining organs.
CAUSE OF DEATH
She said there was no ­evidence of any fractures of the bones, including the hyoid bone in the neck.
An X-ray of the hands was carried out and it showed no evidence of fractures.
Due to the very long autopsy interval, Tina's cause of death could not be declared.
She added: 'It could not be determined due to the skeletal nature of the remains.'
Returning to the dressing gown belt, Dr ­Bolster said the significance of it over the front of Tina's neck was unclear.
She added: 'It was in a very unusual position as there had been significant moving and wrapping of the body after death.'
'VERY DIFFICULT'
A reconstruction video was shown to the jury as to how she recalled the belt being wrapped around the remains.
Asked by Brendan Grehan SC, for Mr Satchwell, whether the belt appeared to be like 'something used to carry the body', Dr Bolster replied: 'That's exactly my thoughts.'
She added: 'It's very difficult to move a deceased's body around and very often I find ligatures are used to move a body from an area.'
The trial previously heard that Mr Satchwell initially told
But he informed officers that he had no concerns over her welfare, feeling she had left due to a ­deterioration in their relationship.
The accused formally reported Tina missing that May but her body was not discovered until October 2023, when gardai carried out 'an invasive search' of the Satchwell home.
NO RING RECOVERY
When re-arrested on suspicion of Tina's murder, Mr Satchwell told
The
Meanwhile, Det Gda David ­Kelleher told how Tina's dressing gown had been photographed and searched for her wedding ring in February of this year.
He told Mr Grehan this was done as Mr Satchwell had said he placed the ring in a pocket of the gown.
However, the ring has not been recovered.
TRIAL CONTINUES
The jury previously heard from a forensic scientist who said the gown and cord were not suitable for examination as they were too damp, mouldy and brittle.
Mr Grehan asked Det Gda Kelleher if it was possible the ring fell out of the gown, which had partially disintegrated.
The officer said he could not be sure.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women.
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Richard Satchwell's court case continues
Credit: John Delea - The Sun Dublin