Pathologist describes wounds of newsagent "hammer attack" victim

Dr Charles Wilson testified at Sheffield Crown Court this morning in the trial of Storm Blueitt (36), accused of killing Judith Ducker (64).

He described to jurors the lacerations left on Ms Ducker’s scalp after she was attacked at Wellgate News on September 1, 2016.

These included small, curved wounds around 3cm in diameter, indicating a blunt weapon with a circular shape.

Alongside them, parallel wounds with undamaged skin in between, indicating something forked — both injuries suggest a claw hammer, he said.

He added: “One of these would do very nicely for the striking end of the hammer and the other would suit the claw.

“There are other weapons which could cause these injuries, like a crowbar for instance.

“It was certainly a hard, heavy weapon. In my opinion it was a claw hammer.”

Dr Wilson also described to jurors how, even at Ms Ducker’s death, seven weeks after the attack, parts of her scalp were missing.

“I don’t know what happened to these sections,” he added. “They were never found, to my knowledge.”

The court had previously heard Ms Ducker was receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer at the time of the attack.

Blueitt, of Cambridge Crescent, East Dene, who was hooked on heroin and methadone at the time of the attack, denies murder.

The trial continues.