‘Complex homicidal assault’ killed Mellory Manning
Injuries to Christchurch sex worker Mellory Manning show that she was killed in “an extremely sustained and determined assault” that included 10 different blunt force wounds to the head, pathologist Dr Martin Sage told the High Court at Christchurch.
Dr Sage gave his report on the post mortem on 27-year-old Miss Manning on the 13th day of the trial of Mongrel Mob prospect Mauha Huatahi Fawcett, 26, who is accused of murdering her.
The jury was warned by Justice David Gendall about the graphic nature of the post mortem photographs that formed part of the evidence at the trial. He said jury members might find them distressing, but they should not let them affect their judgment at the trial.
“The distressing nature of the photographs should not be held against the defendant, Mr Fawcett,” he said.
Dr Sage said the head injuries included an injury to Miss Manning’s forehead which could have been caused by several blows while her head was lying on a hard surface. “The head injuries were of inevitable lethal severity,” he said.
She had stab wounds to the chest which penetrated her lung and went right through to her back. The blade was between 150mm and 170mm long.
She had marks on her neck from manual strangulation. There was no evidence of a cord or ligature having been used.
There were nine bruises to her knuckles and hands. The bruises on her knuckles could have been caused when she struck somebody, or when she was defending herself.
Three linear bruises were visible on the front of her thighs.
Toxicology tests showed no presence of alcohol, methamphetamine, or Ritalin. The level of cannabis showed it had been recently consumed, and there was a low concentration of valium, and a significant level of methadone.
He said she had not been breathing when her body was disposed of in the Avon. She had died from the combined effects of a complex homicidal assault. He said the injuries represented an extremely sustained and determined assault.
The head injuries had been inflicted with great force, possibly involving a weapon with the additional leverage of a handle, or with a bar, rod, or pipe. One head wound could have been from an end-on blow by a rod or pipe 12mm in diameter.
She had evidently not been breathing deeply or for long, when the chest stab wounds were inflicted.
Part of the assault may have taken place when she was incapable of reacting through being in a profound coma, or even after death.
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