Injury caused by kick or punch, Kidderminster mother murder trial told
A mother-of-three found dead at the bottom of her stairs had suffered a fractured eye socket, which was probably caused by a punch or kick, a murder trial was told.
The cause of 32-year-old Louise Evans' death could not be established but she could have been smothered, said a Home Office pathologist.
Dr Alexander Kolar, who carried out two post mortems on Mrs Evans, of Stoney Lane, Kidderminster, said many of the 46 injuries found on her body were consistent with her falling down stairs, although some of the bruises were older.
But he told the jury at Worcester Crown Court that the 'blowout' fracture of her right eye socket was the type of injury caused by a blow from a fist or a kick.
Mrs Evans's husband of 12 years, Alan Evans, aged 35, denies murdering her on July 10 last year. Prosecutors allege that Evans pushed or threw her downstairs and then smothered her until she was dead.
The court heard that Mrs Evans had found out her husband was having an affair with teaching assistant Amanda Chadwick, who worked at their children's school in Kidderminster.
Dr Kolar told the court that, when he carried out the first post mortem on July 10 last year, he could see a pattern of injuries comparable with a fall downstairs. But there was also bruising to the right eye, nose and lips, which were 'common targets' for inflicted injuries.
When he carried out the second post mortem on December 20, decomposition enabled him to find the fracture to the eye socket. Dr Kolar said: "It's the type of injury encountered when a blow is struck directly to the eye socket or the rim around – it is of the type when a fist or kick is delivered to the eye socket region."
Under cross examination today, he told the court it was possible the injury could have been caused by Mrs Evans' putting up her fist to protect herself as she fell.
Mr Rudi Forston QC, defending, today asked Dr Kolar if falls downstairs could be unpredictable with the body striking different items such as steps, banisters and walls.
Dr Kolar agreed that was true, and said he had been unable to establish a cause of death.
Heart and brain specialists found nothing to indicate what caused her death and there was no suggestion that she had landed in a such a position that would have asphyxiated her.
Dr Kolar said smothering would leave no signs although he could not exclude it.
Some of the bruises on her body were more than 18 hours old and could have been caused in the general 'knockabout' of life. None of the injuries could account for her death, he said.
The hearing, at Worcester crown Court, continues.
