Source : Perth Now news
A woman whose death was allegedly staged as a lawnmower accident showed possible signs of strangulation, a pathologist has told court.
After cheating on his wife Frances Crawford over 20 years, across continents and with multiple women, former military man Robert Crawford was accused of her murder.
He is alleged to have killed her at their remote Upper Lockyer property on July 29, 2024 and staging the scene to look like a lawnmower accident.
He has pleaded not guilty, with his trial now in it’s second week before the Brisbane Supreme Court.
On Friday, the court heard further evidence from pathologist Dr Andrew Kedziora into Ms Crawford’s autopsy findings.
Bleeding head wound found
The court was shown images of Ms Crawford’s head, her hair soaked red with blood.
A significantly large, curved laceration of about 16cm in length was found, starting at her hairline and stretching to the back of her head and towards her ear.
Dr Kedziora said, while it appeared to have jagged edges like a cut from a blade, it was likely a split from force.
“(The scalp) almost cracks, the injury looks like a incised wound but it is a laceration,” he said.
“(Likely) either an object hit the head, or the head hit an object.”
Pathologist finds post-mortem injuries
Dr Kedziora pointed to “striking” yellowy abrasions on Ms Crawford’s body which indicated she had been injured post mortem.
However, he claimed it was impossible to know exactly what caused the injury, whether it be during transport or being dragged or any number of scenarios.
The pathologist said Ms Crawford had multiple bruises and abrasions on her torso, arms, hands and back.
One fingernail on her middle finger was ripped off, with “acute” bleeding on the nail bed, indicating it occurred when Ms Crawford was alive.
“Strangulation” a possible reason for dead woman’s injuries
On Thursday, Dr Kedziora said pinpoint haemorrhages in Ms Crawford’s eyes pointed to increased blood pressure in the head near the time of death.
“(It’s) often seen in cases of asphyxia … strangulation is one type of asphyxia,” he said, noting it was a symptom also seen in people with certain vitamin deficiencies and blood diseases.
However, Dr Kedziora said he found no evidence of such conditions on Ms Crawford’s body or in her medical history.
