Murder Trial: Victim's injuries were caused by 'stamping'

That's the opinion of Home Office pathologist Doctor William Lawler who gave evidence at a murder trial at Douglas Courthouse today. 

 

He carried out the post-mortem on 60-year-old Neil Roberts - his body was found at a house on Queen Street in Castletown in the early hours of December 1st. 

 

Jurors were given details, and shown images, of the injuries the gardener sustained both internally and externally - these were to his face, head, neck and body. 

 

Doctor Lawler explained how the entire inside of his face was bruised and almost every rib was fractured - some of them more than once - resulting in a punctured lung. 

 

He said whilst many of the injuries he suffered could, by themselves, prove fatal it was his conclusion that the "very extensive damage" to his pancreas - which had fragmented - had caused his death. 

 

These injuries, he said, were not caused by punching alone and were as a result of "stamping" and "jumping upon" - Mr Roberts would have been lying on the floor and would have still been alive during the attack. 

 

46-year-old Ian Anderson is standing trial accused of murder - he denies the charge. 

 

The trial continues.