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28/06/96 - Sophie 'left like
a crash victim'
Patrick Mulchrone
The Mirror
Murdered Sophie Hook's horrific injuries were revealed
to a jury yesterday.
Her head bruises were like the ones caused in car crashes,
said a pathologist.
He told the court that seven-year-old Sophie may have
been strangled for up to three minutes - and all the
injuries were inflicted before she died.
Unemployed gardener Howard Hughes, 6ft 6ins tall, allegedly
snatched 4ft 1ins Sophie from the garden tent where
she was sleeping with pals after a birthday party.
She was raped twice and her body was dumped in the
sea.
The jury at Chester Crown Court was shown photographs
of the injuries suffered by Sophie after she was taken
from the tent at her uncle's home in Llandudno, North
Wales, last July.
Home Office pathologist Dr Donald Wayte described the
various bruises, abrasions and scratches on her body.
Her right upper arm had been snapped.
"We see it in abuse of young infants, where a
child is held and then swung," he said.
"The child may have tried to get away. In some
way she has been gripped and then the arm has been broken.
It is not an impact fracture or one caused by a blow."
Dr Wayte said it would have taken "considerable
force" to cause the injury.
He told of other injuries to the head, neck, the top
of her chest, back, spine, buttocks and ankle. There
was also internal bleeding.
"It is the type of bruising you see in a road
traffic accident with the head striking the windscreen
or a solid part of the car," he said.
Dr Wayte said bruising around Sophie's head and face
could have been caused by punches, slaps or being pushed
to the ground.
Bruises and scratches around her neck were "typical
of manual strangulation."
The bruises around her neck and upper chest would have
been caused by someone gripping her with his hands with
"considerable force."
Dr Wayte told the jury: "The child died from asphyxia
- lack of oxygen reaching the brain due to manual strangulation."
A video link was set up in court for child witnesses
to give evidence.
A 13-year-old boy told the jury he saw Hughes on Llandudno
promenade the Saturday before the murder.
Hughes, who was on his bike, stopped and chatted for
a few minutes.
Hughes, 31, from Colwyn Bay, denies raping and murdering
Sophie.
The trial continues. |
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