MAGISTRATE'S COURT 30 wounds on woman’s body

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34128, 14 April 1976, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT 30 wounds on woman’s body

More than 30 wounds; were found on the face, head, and neck of the woman whose body was l recovered from a rocky slope below the Summit Road earlier this year. This evidence was given (in the Magistrate’s Court iyesterday during the taking (of depositions against a 61- ; year-old man on a charge of (murder. The man is charged with i murdering Dorothy Jot' Christie, aged 55, of Windsor Crescent. Spreydon, on or about February 17 this year. The hearing, which opened; on Monday, was adjourned

i to tomorrow by Mr J. D. (Kinder, S.M Messrs G. K. Panckhurst [and J. J. Brandts-Giesen appeared for the police, and ; Messrs D. I. Jones and C. K. I Steven for the defendant. A pathologist, Dr Patrick Robert Kelleher, told the t Court that he examined the [woman’s body at the scene l ' r about 7.55 a.m. on February 17. f The face and head werfe covered in blood, and there; , were numerous wounds to l . the scalp and forehead. The lower part of the i[body was covered by a rug, ;|but Mrs Christie’s dress was [around her thighs and her I;underclothes were torn ii Dr Kelleher said that a

post-mortem examination of the body later the same day revealed more than 30 wounds to the face, head, and neck. They included a severe skull fracture, "consistent; with a blow of great force." I Dr Kelleher said he con- 1 eluded that the cause of ; death was severe head in-i juries. In his opinion, Mrs! Christie had been hit many; times with a heavy object l with roughened edges —; such as many of the rocks! found in the area. Injuries on the back of the; dead woman’s hands could; have been caused as she tried to protect her head;

from the blows, Dr Kelleher said. He said that Mrs Christie also had a deep cut in the back of her head, just above the nape of the neck. Strands of hair were found in the dried blood which covered both her hands. Mr Panckhurst asked the witness if the injuries were consistent with a fall down rhe rocky slope. The defendant had told the police that Mrs Christie jumped out of his car, ran across the Summit Road and leapt over the edge. “That explanation is not consistent with my observations,” said Dr Kelleher. In cross-examination Dr Kelleher admitted that “a

I small number” of the in- | juries to the body could ;have resulted from a fall. ’ “Jumping off the wall would cause moderate in- ] juries.” he said, "but in my I opinion these would not be ’ serious enough to cause death.” Dr Kelleher said that he also examined the defendant at the Christchurch central police station about 9.15 a.m. on February 17. He found dried blood and abrasions on the defendant s right hand. The defendant] also had blood on his shins.i said Dr Kelleher. One of the 16 prosecution! witnesses in the case has still to give evidence.