Tragic India Chipchase’s body had over THIRTY separate injuries after her brutal rape and murder
THE body of murdered India Chipchase was found with over THIRTY separate injuries after she was raped, battered and strangled to death, a court heard.
Barmaid India was found covered by a sheet on a mattress on the floor in a bedroom at book-keeper Edward Tenniswood's home in January this year.
India, 20, who prosecutors say was "raped and throttled" by Tenniswood, 52, was covered in separate, recent injuries.
She had bruising to her forehead, her cheek, cuts to the inside of her cheek and her lip, a cut to the top of her right ear as well as bruising and scratching to her neck.
Giving evidence, Dr Michael Biggs told Birmingham Crown Court there was "blunt force trauma to the face, head and neck" of the 20-year-old, as well as marks from compression of the neck.
He said: “It is typical of inflicted injury, or otherwise an assault.
"It is not typical of self-inflicted or accidental causation such as a fall."
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India had gone out with friends in Northampton the night of Friday January 29 but they got separated.
She ended up outside the front entrance at about 1am on Saturday morning.
CCTV footage shows what the Crown say is Tenniswood coming across Ms Chipchase before he "led, steered or escorted" her to a cab, and then back at his home raped and killed her.
The jury has already been told by the prosecution that Tenniswood will claim the sex was consensual and that her death was "an accident".
Dr Biggs said India was 5ft 1in and weighed 8st 5lbs and detailed over 50 bruises to her body in total.
He said there were also at least 10 bruises to India's neck, as well as scratches, and four corresponding internal bruises to the muscles in India's neck.
Dr Biggs confirmed cause of death as "pressure on the neck sufficient to block the blood flow to the brain".
Opening the case on Tuesday, Christopher Donnellan QC said of Tenniswood: "He was overheard by others to say 'Not to worry', and he'd get her home safe - he didn't."
When police broke down the door of Tenniswood's house on the Sunday evening, they found the victim's body in an upstairs front bedroom.
Prosecutors said there was evidence that Ms Chipchase put up a struggle against her alleged attacker, with Tenniswood's blood under one of her fingernails
Tenniswood denies the charges and the trial continues.