Murder victim suffered up to 11 blows to head and was dumped in wheelie bin, court told
A prostitute suffered up to 11 blows to her head before she was later found dumped in a wheelie bin, a court heard.
The body of Romanian-born Lidia Pascale was discovered in a bin in Hope Street, West Bromwich, in December last year.
The 26-year-old was last seen entering client Matthew Cherrington's house in High Street, West Bromwich, more than two weeks previously.
Cherrington, aged 32, denies murdering Miss Pascale.
Pathologist Dr Biedrzycki told a jury at Birmingham Crown Court Miss Pascale had died of 'blunt force trauma' to the head.
He said the back of her head was almost entirely bruised and the skull had several fractures.
"There are a lot of lacerations in different positions," he said. "It would be hard for all of them to have been from one impact.
"I cannot be certain on how many blows there were but there was certainly a significant number. There is bruising to either side of the head.
"A total of 11 blows would not be a million miles away from the number of blows inflicted."
Other injuries to Miss Pascale included bleeding on the brain consistent with the bruising, bruising to her left thigh and a hairline fracture of her cheekbone, Dr Biedrzycki said.
She also suffered a fracture in her hand which was likely caused as Miss Pascale shielded her head from the repeated blows, he said.
Dr Biedrzycki told the jury the bruises suggest a weapon was used and that it would have had at least one straight edge.
He added: "Any object used must also have had a degree of weight to have caused the fractures to the skull.
"In other words, the injuries could not have been inflicted with something very light."
He added he had found no evidence of a violent sexual assault but the possibility of one having taken place could not be excluded.
Forensic scientist, Robert Bone, told the court spots of blood were found on the cellar door, in the bathroom, in the hallways and on a fence at the rear of Cherrington's house.
During his inspection of the property, Mr Bone said he had noticed four 'patches' of silk emulsion on the walls. Further tests revealed the presence of blood behind the paint.
Mr Bone, said: "It appeared to me there had not been an attempt to clean the blood but to put paint on top."
In other areas of the property Mr Bone said there was evidence of wiping in an attempt to remove the blood, including on the inside of the bathroom door.
Miss Pascale had told childhood friend Adrian Albulescu, who dropped her off at the High Street address, she would be '45 minutes – an hour max' and he became concerned when she failed to emerge.
More than 50 specialist officers and dogs were involved in the search for Miss Pascale whose body was found a few days later in Hope Street, just 100 metres from the house where she was last seen.
The case continues.
