This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/suffolk/7217115.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| 'No overdoses' in Suffolk deaths | 'No overdoses' in Suffolk deaths |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Five women whose bodies were found in the Ipswich area were regular drug users but they did not die from overdoses, a pathologist has said. | Five women whose bodies were found in the Ipswich area were regular drug users but they did not die from overdoses, a pathologist has said. |
| Dr Nathaniel Cary, who examined the women's bodies, was giving evidence in the trial of Steve Wright, 49. | Dr Nathaniel Cary, who examined the women's bodies, was giving evidence in the trial of Steve Wright, 49. |
| Gemma Adams, 25, Paula Clennell, 24, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, were working as prostitutes when they disappeared. | Gemma Adams, 25, Paula Clennell, 24, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, were working as prostitutes when they disappeared. |
| Mr Wright, on trial at Ipswich Crown Court, denies their murders. | Mr Wright, on trial at Ipswich Crown Court, denies their murders. |
| The five women were found dead over 10 days in December 2006, two of whom - Miss Alderton and Miss Nicholls - were left in a crucifix pose, the court has heard. | The five women were found dead over 10 days in December 2006, two of whom - Miss Alderton and Miss Nicholls - were left in a crucifix pose, the court has heard. |
| These are not simply what we would call drug overdose cases in people who may be addicted to hard drugs Dr Nathaniel Cary | These are not simply what we would call drug overdose cases in people who may be addicted to hard drugs Dr Nathaniel Cary |
| The bodies were all found naked and appeared to have been dumped - circumstances that rule out the possibility they died accidentally from an overdose, Dr Cary told the court. | |
| "These were individuals who may have not gone a single hour in a day without some drug on board," he said. | "These were individuals who may have not gone a single hour in a day without some drug on board," he said. |
| "[But] these are not simply what we would call drug overdose cases in people who may be addicted to hard drugs - because of the circumstances of the disappearances and the dumpings of the bodies and the fact that they were all naked. | "[But] these are not simply what we would call drug overdose cases in people who may be addicted to hard drugs - because of the circumstances of the disappearances and the dumpings of the bodies and the fact that they were all naked. |
| "This is not in any shape or form an example of death due to drug overdose." | "This is not in any shape or form an example of death due to drug overdose." |
| Arm-lock theory | Arm-lock theory |
| However, intoxication through drugs may have made it easier for someone to kill them, the jury was told. | However, intoxication through drugs may have made it easier for someone to kill them, the jury was told. |
| "Someone may have been so intoxicated they simply would not resist," Dr Cary said. | |
| The pathologist described how Miss Adams and Miss Nicol were both found dead in rivers, the first on 2 December and second on 8 December. | |
| Despite believing Miss Adams' body had been put in the water soon after she died, Dr Cary said the time of death could not be accurately determined by examining her body. | Despite believing Miss Adams' body had been put in the water soon after she died, Dr Cary said the time of death could not be accurately determined by examining her body. |
| Gemma Adams was the first of the women to be found dead | Gemma Adams was the first of the women to be found dead |
| "It's usually not that simple from examination of the body," he told the court. | "It's usually not that simple from examination of the body," he told the court. |
| "Nowadays last use of the telephone can be terribly important because people seem to be on the telephone all the time." | "Nowadays last use of the telephone can be terribly important because people seem to be on the telephone all the time." |
| Dr Cary said there were no injuries on Miss Adams' body consistent with her having been strangled, but he said he could not exclude the theory she had been asphyxiated after being put in an arm lock from behind. | Dr Cary said there were no injuries on Miss Adams' body consistent with her having been strangled, but he said he could not exclude the theory she had been asphyxiated after being put in an arm lock from behind. |
| Because of the condition of Miss Nicol's remains the cause of death could not be ascertained, Dr Cary said. | Because of the condition of Miss Nicol's remains the cause of death could not be ascertained, Dr Cary said. |
| As with Miss Adams, he said he had considered the theory she had been asphyxiated, but he could not rule out the possibility she had drowned. | As with Miss Adams, he said he had considered the theory she had been asphyxiated, but he could not rule out the possibility she had drowned. |
| Body 'manhandled' | Body 'manhandled' |
| Both Miss Nicol and Miss Alderton, whose body was found on 10 December in woodland at Nacton, had bruising. | Both Miss Nicol and Miss Alderton, whose body was found on 10 December in woodland at Nacton, had bruising. |
| On Miss Nicol, they were consistent with having been "manhandled" , the court was told. | On Miss Nicol, they were consistent with having been "manhandled" , the court was told. |
| However, it could be concluded that Miss Alderton, who had an abrasion on her lips, bruising to her neck, a graze on her chin, and bruising and scratching on her legs, had been asphyxiated, Dr Cary said. | |
| Tests showed she died within hours of her disappearance, on 3 December, and had been "significantly under the influence of cocaine" he added. | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |