Laura Marshall’s partner tells inquest he does not know anything about her death

The partner of Laura Marshall has told an inquest he “definitely” did not have anything to do with her death.

Gary O’Dowd also told the hearing in Belfast that he did not know how the dental nurse died, but said they had had a “volatile” relationship.

Ms Marshall’s bruised body was found partially submerged in bath water at her home in Lurgan, Co Armagh, on April 3 2016.

Her partner Mr O’Dowd was initially charged with her murder, but the charge was withdrawn by prosecutors two years later.

Coroner Louisa Fee is currently presiding over an inquest for the 31-year-old.

The inquest has already heard that pathology experts differ on the cause of death.

It has also heard evidence that Ms Marshall had told a family member that Mr O’Dowd had threatened to kill her, and had subjected her to regular beatings.

When Mr O’Dowd was called as a witness on Tuesday, coroner Ms Fee advised him he did not have to answer any question which might incriminate himself.

Barrister for the coroner, David McDowell KC began: “Mr O’Dowd, can I ask you, had you anything to do with the death of Laura Marshall?

He said: “Definitely not.”

The barrister asked: “Do you know anything about how she met her death?”

Mr O’Dowd said: “Definitely not.”

Mr McDowell continued: “I wanted to ask you where you were on the 31st of March (2016), do you recall?”

Mr O’Dowd said he had been at his mother’s house all day. He said the following day he had gone into Lurgan.

Mr McDowell asked: “Between the Thursday and the Friday, a woman said that he she heard you and Laura arguing at about one o’clock in the morning, is that right?”

The witness said: “No, definitely not.”

Mr O’Dowd was asked about damage to the door of the bathroom in which Ms Marshall was found, but he said he had no knowledge of it.

Mr McDowell asked: “Did you assault Laura Marshall on the 30th of August, 2015, the year before?”

Mr O’Dowd said: “No.”

He also denied that he had threatened his partner with a knife.

Mr McDowell asked: “Did you threaten to kill her?”

The witness said: “No.”

The barrister said: “Did you grab her by the throat and pull her hair?”

He responded: “No.”

Mr McDowell asked the witness if he accepted he had a “volatile relationship with Laura Marshall”.

He said: “Yeah.”

The inquest continues.