Key Events So Far 18 mins ago Mr Medland is now calling Dr Christopher Johnson, a patholog… 1 hour ago Jury hears audio of 999 call 11:52 Jonathan Humphries Wilcocks to take stand tomorrow
There appears to have been a problem with certain expert evidence, meaning that Wilcocks will now not take to the stand until tomorrow morning.
The jury will be called back in at noon.
11:51 Jonathan Humphries Kelsey's death caused by 'forceful neck pressure'
Mr Medland: “Given those findings were you able to form a view as to the mechanism that caused Kelsey
s death?”
Dr Johnson “Yes, taken together the findings are typical of the application of forceful neck pressure.”
He says the fractures and bruising would have been caused by that pressure.
Mr Medland asks about the pinpoint haemorrhaging, and how long it would take to cause this.
Dr Johnson: “Its generally accepted to get haemorrhages in this sort of extent, and this is the presence the day after this happened, a minimum of 15-20 seconds is taken as a fair time for the pressure to be applied.”
He confirms that this would have been continuous pressure.
Mr Medland: “What if anything should the jury take from your use of the word forceful?
Dr Johnson: “In any injury in forensic practice, one can only give broad estimates of force, you commonly split them into mild moderate and severe force. Depending on what structures are damaged you can give your opinion on what level of force was applied.”
He says because of the injuries to Kelsey, he would give an estimate to the court of moderate to severe force.
Mr Medland asks how the neck compression was done.
Dr Johnson: “My understanding is this is alleged to have occurred by some form of arm lock pressure, and the use of a hand or hands. To me she has the right extent of injuries and a pattern to support that description.”
He says crushing to the lower part of the adams apple supports this description.
That concludes Mr Medlands questioning.
Gareth Evans, QC, defending, asks Dr Johnson to confirm that the injuries were consistent with the account of his client using an armlock, and then a hand.
Dr Johnson agrees.
Mr Evans asks him to confirm that the first strangulation was not fatal.
Dr Johnson accepts this.
That concludes his evidence.
The jury are dismissed while Mr Justice Holroyde discusses timetabling issues with the court.
Pathologist’s evidence Jonathan Humphries
Mr Medland is now calling Dr Christopher Johnson, a pathologist who examined Kelseys body, to the witness stand.
He is sworn in.
Consultant forensic pathologist at Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and is a Home Office approved pathologist.
Dr Johnson conducted a post-mortem on Kelsey.
A juror has raised a concern that she recognises Dr Johnson.
Mr Justice Holroyde agrees to let his testimony continue.
Dr Johnson began the examination the day after Kelseys death, having been given a brief background of the circumstances of her death.
Mr Medland: “Did you find that she could be described as a well nourished, slim, white young female?”
Dr Johnson: “Yes.”
She was around eight stone five.
Dr Johnson understood she had been subject to extensive CPR, which caused some minor injuries.
The jury hears there were a number of a “pin-point” haemorrhages on Kelseys face.
The jury are shown some computer generated images of Kelseys body.
Dr Johnson “They are very fine pin-point haemorrhages and they are very important where it is believed that neck pressure has been implied. In the context of a case like this they are vital observations to make.”
Dr Johnson says they are caused by a rise of pressure in the veins of the head and neck, which causes tiny bleeds in small blood vessels under the skin.
Kelsey had a “constellation” of these haemorrhages around her eyelids and her left ear.
There were similar haemorrhages around her right ear, and a collection of tiny haemorrhages on the gum-line
A red mark was identified on her neck as well as a bruise, measuring around 5cm x 2cm.
No injuries were found on her torso.
There was a small bruise on the back of Kelseys right hand, between the thumb and the index finger.
On the left arm there were no injuries.
There were two faint bruises on the shin of her right leg, and no injuries to the left leg.
Dr Johnson then began surgical examinations of the inside of Kelseys body.
Dr Johnson says there was a bruise under the skin behind her right ear.
This was 1.8cm across and was present on the undersurface of the scalp.
There was another internal bruise on the lower part of the right jaw-line.
Dr Johnson is describing internal bruises to the left side of Kelseys neck, this was directly below a bruise seen on the surface of Kelseys skin.
There were other bruises on glands and muscles inside her neck, and bruises on the carotid artery.
He describes injuries to the cartilage and bones in Kelseys neck. He says these structure are commonly broken in strangulation cases.
There were fractures and bruises on these internal structures.
Dr Johnson says there was also bruising at the back of the right side of the tongue.
He describes how microscopic analysis of the cartilage in the neck picked up tiny fractures that were not immediately obvious on a standard examination.
11:06 Jonathan Humphries Kelsey “dead on arrival”
Mr Medland will now read some agreed facts about what was found at the flat by police and paramedics.
Paramedics arrived at the flat in Foundry Lane 5.11pm.
Kelsey was admitted to Whiston Hospital at 5.48pm upon arrival she was noted to have no recordable heartbeat or respiration, and had fixed, dilated pupils. A medical student recorded: “To all intents and purposes she was dead.”
She had sustained severe brain damage due to lack of oxygen and was formally declared dead at 11.48pm.
CSI examiners said blood belonging to Kelsey was found in the hall of Miss McDonalds flat.
However this was related to a medical condition and not to injuries sustained from the defendant.
Blood samples from both victim and defendant were taken.
Kelsey had no alcohol in her system, but had trace amounts of cocaine, although this would have been taken many hours before and she would not have been feeling narcotic effects.
Wilcocks had some alcohol in his system, less than the legal drink drive limit. However the sample was taken around six hours after the death of Kelsey.
Scientists estimate that he would have been roughly double the drink drive limit at the time of Kelseys death.
He also had a tiny trace of cannabis in his system.
10:48 Jonathan Humphries Jury hears audio of 999 call
Callum Wilcocks has been called to the dock. Court staff are preparing equipment to play audio tapes of Beccy McDonalds 999 call and video interviews.
Judge Mr Justice Holroyde has entered the courtroom. Wilcocks has arrived in the dock.
Simon Medland QC, prosecuting, says the crowns case is likely to finish today.
The jury have been called in.
Mr Medland is sharing some written admissions among members of the jury.
He will now read some agreed facts.
The first are transactions on Beccy McDonalds cash card.
Kelsey and the defendant had travelled to an all night garage with the card, and Miss McDonald had texted her pin number to Kelsey.
While at the garage Wilcocks phoned Kelsey to ask if she wanted some alcohol, and he bought cigarettes and vodka worth £19
After that, around 3.30am, two transactions for £50 and £100 were withdrawn from a cash-point.
The jury is now being played a 999 call from Miss McDonald.
There is some wind interference and it is difficult to make out her words, but she is clearly very upset, and the phrase “shes dead” is clearly audible.
She tells the operator she is on Foundry Lane, and she is crying.
She says: “I saw her arm around the door.”
The operator asks her to take deep breaths, and asks her to confirm the address of the flat.
Operator: “Is he aggressive normally?”
Miss McDonald: “I dont know, I dont really know him.”
Operator: “You have gone round to the address and seen her lying on the floor?”
Miss McDonald: “From what I could see yeah”
Operator: “But you have not gone inside?”
Miss McDonald :“No he was just shouting shes dead, shes dead.”
Operator:“The male was shouting shes dead?”
Miss McDonald “Yeah.”
Miss McDonald repeats that she saw Kelseys arm around the door and that Wilcocks was shouting “hes dead.”
She confirms the names of Kelsey and the defendant, but appears to be struggling to breathe due to her distress.
The operator asks her to take deep breaths and calm down.
Operator: “There is an ambulance on the way to check on your friend.”
Miss McDonald: “But hes standing by the door.”
Operator: “Thats fine theres officers on the way.”
Miss McDonald: “He was saying f***** listen to me and he was shouting shes dead.”
Operator: “Was he very aggressive was he?”
Miss McDonald: “Yeah.”
The operator confirms the address with Miss McDonald.
She repeats: “They are on the way Rebecca, they are going as fast as they can.”
“We are not sure yet whats happening so you need to calm down.”
Sirens are now audible in the background.
Miss McDonald is now being comforted by the operator. She says she is with her friend at a nearby address.
That concludes the 999 call.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/