Dead man's head found in a bag & his arms in a tree

Murder trial told of victim's last movements before his killing

- OLIVIA KELLEHER

A MURDER trial has heard the head of a man was found in a bag on the grounds of a derelict house, his body was discovered under a tree, while his dismembered arms were "draped over a branch".

Ionut Cosmin Nicholescu, 30, who hails from Branistea, Dambovita County in Romania, is on trial at a Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork for the murder of Francis "Frankie" Dunne.

The 64-year-old was found dismembered and headless in the back garden of a period house in Boreenmanna Road in Cork in December 2019.

Nicholescu was working as a chef in Cork city during this period of time.

The trial has heard evidence from scenes of crime examiner, Garda Stephen Dennehy, who told the jury the arms of Mr Dunne were found "draped over a branch of a tree" in the garden of Castlegreine House on December 28, 2019.

He felt they were "not thrown randomly" and it looked "like they were placed there".

Garda Dennehy said gardai found the head of the deceased in a bag while they discovered clothes in another bag.