News

Natasha Bradbury lay dying for ‘one to two hours’ with 53 injuries

Published

8 years ago

September 5, 2016

NATASHA BRADBURY suffered 53 separate, external injuries during a sustained and severe assault at her home in Haverfordwest, a doctor told a murder jury today.

And she lay dying for “one to two hours, hours not minutes” before her on-off boyfriend Luke George Jones dialled 999 and asked for an ambulance.

By then she was already “freezing cold” and paramedics were unable to revive her.

Jones, aged 33, of Haven Drive, Milford Haven, denies murdering Miss Bradbury at Flat A, Imperial Court, off the High Street, Haverfordwest, in the early hours of February 22.

The prosecution argue he was jealous and possessive and murdered Miss Bradbury, aged 27, just hours after being told she had slept with another man.

A jury at Swansea Crown Court today heard from Dr Deryk James, who carried out a post mortem examination on her body.

Dr James said he found 17 separate injuries to her face and head, and 13 to her neck and upper chest, including fractures to several ribs and a fracture to her spine.

“These are not injuries you get from a fall but from an assault. And not just one but many,” he said.

The injuries that would prove fatal had been caused to her liver, heart and brain, he added. A litre of blood had leaked out of her liver and into her stomach and there was a small tear in her heart.

Dr James said it would be “pretty bizarre” if the injuries could be explained by Miss Bradbury falling over or suffering a series of accidents.

Some of the injuries were of the sort seen after road traffic accidents or a severe assault.

“You don’t see these tears (to the liver and heart) in ordinary domestic falls,” he added. “It could be a stamp or being thrown against a hard surface at speed.

“The overall pattern is one of assault, a sustained and severe assault,” he said.

Dr James explained to the jury why he believed Miss Bradbury had survived for some time after the fatal injuries had been inflicted.

He said that after suffering injury the body sent inflammatory cells, and other types of cells, to the damaged area to begin the repair process.

A single medic had published a paper suggesting that process could begin as quickly as 35 minutes after impact.

But in his opinion the process did not begin for at least one to two hours.

The process certainly stopped at the point of death, he added.

But an examination of Miss Bradbury’s liver and heart revealed the process had been underway at both sites, which meant she must have remained alive “for hours rather than minutes” after those two attacks.

In addition, said Dr James, nerve fibres in her brain had begun to malfunction following the assault to her head, which was another process that took time to begin and did not take place after death.

There was no evidence, he added, that all the injuries were inflicted at the same time and he could not say that some had not been caused hours after others had.

Dr James said Jones himself had suffered small cuts and abrasions but he could not say when.

Cross examined by Chris Clee QC, the barrister leading Jones’ defence team, Dr James said he could not accept that all the injuries could have been caused by Jones kicking Miss Bradbury “forcefully” and her falling onto a glass coffee table, breaking it, and then onto a cabinet and then onto the floor.

And he could not accept that the injuries to her ribs and to her liver could have been caused by one impact.

“They were separate impacts,” he said.

The trial continues.

News

Massive search and rescue off Pembrokeshire coast for Chris Ellery

Published

13 hours ago

November 1, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A LARGE-SCALE air and sea search operation is took place off the Fishguard coast following the mysterious disappearance of a man on a solo boating trip.

The search, which began at 3:00pm on Friday (Nov 1), has seen Coastguard helicopters and search vessels combing the area for signs of Chris Ellery, who was last in contact on Wednesday, October 30.

Family members have taken to social media in a desperate plea for assistance in locating Chris, who is known to be an experienced and well-prepared sailor. His daughter, Kenzie Ellery, shared a heartfelt post on Facebook, describing her father as “always very prepared” for potential challenges at sea, and expressed deep concern that no communication has been possible since Wednesday.

Dyfed Powys Police said: “We have been involved in a multi-agency search throughout the day for a man reported missing and believed to be in the Fishguard area.”

The police told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “A call was received from colleagues at Avon and Somerset Police at just before 10.20am today (Friday, November 1) requesting assistance in locating the man who was known to be visiting the area on Wednesday, October 30.

“Concerns were raised when he failed to return home yesterday.”

Personal belongings discovered

According to reports, police and Coastguard teams discovered some of Ellery’s belongings on a secluded cove accessible only by boat, intensifying efforts in this remote area. Despite locating personal items, there has been no sign of his boat or any further trace of the missing man himself. Kenzie revealed that her father was due to return home by midday on Thursday, October 31, but contact ceased shortly after he set off on his journey.

Public plea for assistance

Kenzie’s Facebook post included a photo of the small boat her father was last seen on, and she urged local residents along the coastline to stay vigilant and report any unusual sightings immediately. She mentioned that her father had an AirTag device with him, which last signalled in the sea near Fishguard. She noted that friends and family in Bristol have limited ability to assist physically but are sharing the information widely in the hope it reaches those closer to the search area.

In her appeal, Kenzie wrote: “We all need him to be home, and we pray that he is safe. Please share this post—we need him to be safe and home as soon as possible.”

***Chris’ daughter Kenzie has shared photos of the missing boat***

Ongoing rescue efforts

The coastguard operation is expected to continue on Saturday, with helicopters again making repeated passes over the Fishguard coastline and nearby sea. Aviation enthusiasts reported sightings of search aircraft involved in the operation on Friday.

Dyfed Powys Police said that its officers were deployed in the operation, “with land and sea-based searches carried out throughout the day”.

At one point early on Friday evening there were reportedly five RNLI lifeboats involved in the operation, including both in-shore and all-weather vessels.

The FPV (Fisheries Patrol Vessel) Rhodri Morgan and FPV Gwenllian are also in the area but it is unclear if they were also involved in the search, which was postponed due to it getting dark at 7.20pm.

Police and Coastguard authorities are urging residents along the Fishguard coastline to remain alert and report any potential sightings or evidence of the missing boater.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police.

***Coastguard in action (Image: File)***

Education

Milford Haven School first to achieve gold in carer’s scheme

Published

19 hours ago

November 1, 2024

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN SCHOOL have been recognised for their commitment to and support for young carers and is the first school to achieve the top level award.

The school have achieved the Investors in Carers Gold Level award for its work for learners and staff who are carers.

The scheme is delivered by Hywel Dda University Health Board and supported by local authority and third sector partners in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

The Investors in Carers initiative was originally designed to help health facilities such as GP practices, areas within hospitals and other organisations focus on and improve their carer awareness.

This scheme has now extended to many other teams, services, and organisations. It is a scheme that provides a foundation for helping to identify and support unpaid carers of all ages.

Milford Haven School was assessed against the six themes within the scheme: Carer Lead, Staff training, Identification, Information and Support for carers and Evaluation.

Janette Reynolds, Assistant Head Teacher said: “We are incredibly honoured to receive the Gold Investors in Carers Award, it is a testament to our commitment to supporting and recognizing the invaluable contributions of carers within our community. It was about developing a culture that respects, empowers, and advocates for the wellbeing of carers at Milford Haven School.

“We will continue to strive towards providing the best possible support, ensuring carers feel valued and equipped to balance their responsibilities.”

Pembrokeshire County Council Carers Champion, Councillor Mike James said: “This is absolutely fantastic news. Everyone at Milford Haven School should be extremely proud of their hard work and commitment that has led to them becoming the first school in Pembrokeshire to receive the Gold Investors in Carers award.

“The award recognises the awareness and support for carers provided by the school and this is to be congratulated.”

A carer is someone, of any age, who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. Anyone can become a carer; in most cases becoming a carer is not out of choice, it just happens.

For more information about the Investors in Carers scheme or for useful advice for carers, please visit: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/carers

Crime

Pembrokeshire man admits ‘overstepping’ in stalking case

Published

19 hours ago

November 1, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A HAVERFORDWEST man acknowledged he ‘overstepped’ following charges of home burglary and stalking.

Spencer Lepetit, aged 35 and residing in Hawthorn Rise, faced Swansea Crown Court accused of entering a Pembroke property on August 16 with the intent to steal a mobile phone. Additionally, between September 3 and 19, he allegedly trespassed repeatedly on a woman’s property, made multiple phone calls from an unknown number, and loitered outside her home, causing her significant alarm and distress.

Lepetit denied both charges but accepted responsibility for a lesser stalking offence, which was deemed suitable by Prosecutor Thomas Scapens, leading the Crown Prosecution Service to drop the burglary charge.

Lepetit’s defence, Jon Tarrant, described the circumstances as a result of a “toxic relationship,” stating, “He attempted to reconnect but went beyond acceptable limits.”

Judge Huw Rees ordered a pre-sentence report and remanded Lepetit in custody, with sentencing scheduled for November 22.