'Not possible' to tell whether alleged murder victim Martin Glynn had dementia, leading brain medic tells jury
A jury has heard from a leading radiologist who viewed CT scans of an alleged murder victim’s brain.
Expert witness Dr Curtis Offiah appeared at Northampton Crown Court to explain what he had found when he looked at thousands of images of Martin Glynn’s head following an attack in September 2024.
Dr Offiah appeared at the court by videolink. Defendant Samuel Field also appeared from HMP Peterborough via videolink at the same hearing for logistical reasons.
The consultant radiologist has been a doctor for 32 years and a consultant for 20.
He specialises in neuro radiology at the Royal London Hospital, which is one of the busiest major trauma units in the country.
He was asked to report on CT scans of Martin Glynn’s head taken during his hospital admission after the alleged attack in September 2024 and a previous scan taken after a fall in 2023.
The jury was shown sections of the CT scans.
Dr Offiah said that he had noted some hardening of arteries in Mr Glynn’s brain in the earlier scan from 2023.
Prosecuting, Adrian Langdale KC asked him if that was normal for a man of his age.
"That would not be uncommon,” said Dr Offiah.
Mr Langdale said: “Was there anything in relation to that which had an effect on what was to occur in September the following year?”
"No,” replied Dr Offiah.
He told the court that Mr Glynn’s brain was shrunken, which was usual in elderly people and would have been there ‘for a significant period of time’ before the alleged murder and was not ‘unusual or uncommon in any way.’
Mr Offiah was asked whether he could tell whether Mr Glynn was suffering from any dementia. He was asked: “It’s not possible from these scans to tell if he was suffering from a significant degree of dementia?"
“Absolutely not,” he said, adding that a doctor would have to complete a number of in-person assessments on a person related to memory and mobility to properly assess for dementia.
The trial continues. Samuel Field, 40, formerly of Gold Street, Desborough, denies murder, manslaughter and GBH.