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World's End murders: 90-year-old witness at murder trial | World's End murders: 90-year-old witness at murder trial |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A 90-year-old retired forensic pathologist has given evidence in the trial of a man accused of murdering two teenage girls 37 years ago. | A 90-year-old retired forensic pathologist has given evidence in the trial of a man accused of murdering two teenage girls 37 years ago. |
Dr Robert Nagle was appearing as a witness in the trial of Angus Sinclair at the High Court in Livingston. | Dr Robert Nagle was appearing as a witness in the trial of Angus Sinclair at the High Court in Livingston. |
Mr Sinclair denies raping and murdering Helen Scott and Christine Eadie, who were last seen at the World's End pub in Edinburgh on 15 October 1977. | Mr Sinclair denies raping and murdering Helen Scott and Christine Eadie, who were last seen at the World's End pub in Edinburgh on 15 October 1977. |
Dr Nagle said that someone had knelt on Ms Eadie and throttled her. | Dr Nagle said that someone had knelt on Ms Eadie and throttled her. |
He told the court that he and a colleague carried out post-mortem examinations on both girls a few days after their bodies had been discovered. | He told the court that he and a colleague carried out post-mortem examinations on both girls a few days after their bodies had been discovered. |
Reports they compiled in both cases detailed the girls' injuries, internally and externally. | Reports they compiled in both cases detailed the girls' injuries, internally and externally. |
Pinpoint haemorrhaging | Pinpoint haemorrhaging |
He said the injuries on the murdered 17-year-olds were consistent with someone who had been repeatedly punched and subjected to blunt force injuries. | He said the injuries on the murdered 17-year-olds were consistent with someone who had been repeatedly punched and subjected to blunt force injuries. |
In Ms Eadie's case, they included pinpoint haemorrhaging, abrasions, scratches, a "ligature track" around the neck, bruising to the mouth and pressure marks on the upper thighs, the court heard. | In Ms Eadie's case, they included pinpoint haemorrhaging, abrasions, scratches, a "ligature track" around the neck, bruising to the mouth and pressure marks on the upper thighs, the court heard. |
In most cases, the injuries would have been caused by an assailant, he told the court. | In most cases, the injuries would have been caused by an assailant, he told the court. |
The pathologists' report, read to the court by Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland, who is prosecuting the case, concluded in Ms Eadie's case: "From our examination we are of the opinion that death was due to asphyxia due to strangulation with a ligature and by gagging of the mouth." | The pathologists' report, read to the court by Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland, who is prosecuting the case, concluded in Ms Eadie's case: "From our examination we are of the opinion that death was due to asphyxia due to strangulation with a ligature and by gagging of the mouth." |
Mr Mulholland went on to ask the witness: "Are the injuries consistent with Christine Eadie being repeatedly punched, subjected to blunt force injury, someone kneeling on her with their hands around her neck, throttling her and placing a ligature around her neck, with a gag in her mouth and asphyxiating and strangling her?" | Mr Mulholland went on to ask the witness: "Are the injuries consistent with Christine Eadie being repeatedly punched, subjected to blunt force injury, someone kneeling on her with their hands around her neck, throttling her and placing a ligature around her neck, with a gag in her mouth and asphyxiating and strangling her?" |
Dr Nagle agreed. | Dr Nagle agreed. |
The court also heard details of Ms Scott's injuries, including scratches, a ligature mark and one injury consistent with a shoe "stomping on the left side of her head". | The court also heard details of Ms Scott's injuries, including scratches, a ligature mark and one injury consistent with a shoe "stomping on the left side of her head". |
The report on her post-mortem examination, also read to the jury, concluded: "As a result of our examination, we are of the opinion that the death was due to asphyxia, consequent upon strangulation." | The report on her post-mortem examination, also read to the jury, concluded: "As a result of our examination, we are of the opinion that the death was due to asphyxia, consequent upon strangulation." |
'Repeated punching' | 'Repeated punching' |
Questioning the witness, Mr Mulholland asked: "She had injuries consistent with repeated punching, injuries consistent with stomping, an injury which could be consistent with kicking, is that correct?" | Questioning the witness, Mr Mulholland asked: "She had injuries consistent with repeated punching, injuries consistent with stomping, an injury which could be consistent with kicking, is that correct?" |
"Yes," replied Dr Nagle. | "Yes," replied Dr Nagle. |
The prosecutor continued: "She also had injuries consistent with throttling, someone placing their hands around her neck, and also injuries consistent with the application of a ligature around her wrists during life and also around her neck during life? | The prosecutor continued: "She also had injuries consistent with throttling, someone placing their hands around her neck, and also injuries consistent with the application of a ligature around her wrists during life and also around her neck during life? |
"And as a result of asphyxia, throttling, strangling, has caused her death?" | "And as a result of asphyxia, throttling, strangling, has caused her death?" |
Again, Dr Nagle agreed. | Again, Dr Nagle agreed. |
Later the court heard from forensic pathologist Professor Anthony Busuttil, 68, who prepared a report after studying post-mortem and toxicology analysis carried out by others on both girls. | |
He stressed that he was not directly involved in the post-mortem process. | |
He concluded it was "very likely" that the two murders were committed by the same person. | |
Factors such as the way the bodies were disposed of, the use of ligatures, the damage to the bodies, helped him reach that conclusion, he told the jury. | |
"It's likely that the two murders were perpetrated in a similar way, very likely by the same person or persons," he said. | |
Special defences | |
Mr Sinclair is alleged to have gagged the girls, bound their wrists and tied a ligature around their necks. | Mr Sinclair is alleged to have gagged the girls, bound their wrists and tied a ligature around their necks. |
He denies inflicting blunt force injuries on Ms Eadie by repeatedly punching and kicking her on the body and biting her. | He denies inflicting blunt force injuries on Ms Eadie by repeatedly punching and kicking her on the body and biting her. |
He also denies forcing Ms Scott to walk barefoot into a field, ripping the strap from her handbag, repeatedly punching and kicking her on the head and body and stamping on her head. | He also denies forcing Ms Scott to walk barefoot into a field, ripping the strap from her handbag, repeatedly punching and kicking her on the head and body and stamping on her head. |
And he denies stealing clothing, footwear, jewellery and other personal effects from the teenagers in an attempt to pervert the course of justice. | And he denies stealing clothing, footwear, jewellery and other personal effects from the teenagers in an attempt to pervert the course of justice. |
Mr Sinclair has lodged three special defences, of incrimination, consent and alibi. | Mr Sinclair has lodged three special defences, of incrimination, consent and alibi. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |