News

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

Published

5 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

Police forensics investigation underway at Castle Lake car park, Haverfordwest

Published

9 hours ago

July 25, 2021

Thomas Sinclair

SPECIALIST officers from Dyfed-Powys Police are conducting a forensics investigation following an earlier incident at a Haverfordwest car park.

Scenes of crime officers have been deployed at Castle Lake car park, with the car park currently sealed off by officers.

The investigation involves a silver Peugeot, with officers focussing on the vehicle, located near the entrance to the car park.

The Herald has contacted the police for more a statement.

MORE TO FOLLOW

News

Man, 22, charged with murder of John William Bell in Cardigan

Published

2 days ago

July 23, 2021

Thomas Sinclair

A CARDIGAN man has been charged with murder after a man’s death in Ceredigion.

John Bell, 37, and also from the town, was found on the road to Cardigan Bridge in the early hours of Wednesday.

Dyfed-Powys Police said 22-year-old Ashley Keegan, of Golwg y Castell, Cardigan, has been charged with his murder.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Dyfed-Powys Police can confirm that Ashley Keegan, aged 22, of Golwg y Castell, Cardigan, has been charged with the murder of John William Bell.

“Keegan will appear at Swansea magistrates court on Saturday 24^th July 2021.

“John’s family continue to be supported by specialist officers and the investigation is grateful for the support of the community whilst enquiries were conducted.”

This is the second major incident in the same area this month.

Another man was charged with making threats with a knife, he is again from Golwg y Castell.

Dyfed-Powys Police said they received a number of calls reporting a man brandishing a knife towards another man in Maesyfelin, Cardigan, at around 4.20pm on Wednesday (July 14).

Several police units swiftly made their way to the area, but the suspect had fled.

Dean Thomas, aged 25, was quickly located at his home in Golwg y Castell, where he was arrested on suspicion of affray and taken to custody.

Mobile phone footage was gathered from people at the scene, and statements were taken from witnesses.

Cardigan Inspector Owen Williams said: “Thanks to the swift attendance of officers, there were a number of people present who were able to provide evidence to assist with our enquiries.
“Thomas also made a significant statement linking himself with the incident, and was charged within hours of being arrested.

“I hope the speed with which we carried out enquiries into this incident reassures people living in Maesyfelin, who were naturally very concerned by what had happened.”

Thomas was charged with threatening a person with a blade or sharply pointed article in a public place and appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 15 where he admitted the offence.

He will be sentenced on July 29 at Swansea Crown Court.

In relation to the murder, anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys Police, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk, or by calling 101 and quoting Op Reedham. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

News

‘Plan ahead this summer’, says Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

2 days ago

July 23, 2021

Thomas Sinclair

THE FOLLOWING is a message from the Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr David Simpson:

Hello everyone, I hope you are well and enjoying this lovely weather.

My key message this week is about planning ahead.

This week we have experienced very hot and sunny days and beaches have been full and everyone is enjoying the outdoors.

We are experiencing a high volume of visitors to the county which can at times add additional pressures on our services.

This week, for example, we have seen high demand for car parking spaces, beach clean ups, litter picking and toilet cleaning.

Due to the high footfall please consider where you are going and what you will do when you are there. Some coastal car parks on nice sunny days are filing by mid-morning.

We all also need to be patient when out and about. We are all working together to move forward after the lockdowns, businesses still have to work differently and some are struggling with staff shortages, so please be patient.

As many of us will be staying local for our time off why not consider doing a ‘not visited yet list’.

Consider places in Pembrokeshire you have not explored but would like to – make this the year you go to those places you have always wanted to go to but not had a chance.

Our front line teams are working hard to support our communities and ensure we deliver key services. I would ask for your support to help us to keep Pembrokeshire open and welcoming to all.

I’m aware of issues reported to us regarding litter being left on beaches and grass verges. Leaving litter behind is not acceptable – we have adequate litter bins out and about. Please help us keep Pembrokeshire clean.

Another issue being reported to us is fires being lit in the countryside and beauty spots while people eat and drink in the warm weather.

It goes without saying how dangerous a fire could be given the exceptionally dry weather we have had recently.

If you are thinking about lighting a fire while you are out I would just appeal to you to please think again. The potential consequences are just not worth it.

As you will know, this week we have had an Amber weather warning for heat, so just a gentle reminder to take care when out and about and please take care of your pets.

Our furry friends need extra attention in the heat. Please do not leave dogs unattended in cars and remember the walkways will be hot on their feet.

I’d like to finish this week by thanking everyone involved in our education teams and wish them all a well-deserved summer break.

I hope all our children enjoy the summer – the weather is definitely helping!

Stay safe everyone.