A WOMAN who was allegedly murdered by her husband had 65 separate external injuries, as well as several broken bones, internal bruising and bleeding.

Edward Small, 76, of Raymond Drive, West Bowling, denies murdering his 73-year-old wife, Alzheimer’s sufferer Sheila Small, at their home on December 18, 2018.

Pathologist Dr Michael Parsons told Bradford Crown Court yesterday about the injuries he discovered to Mrs Small when he carried out her post-mortem examination.

He detailed the 65 separate external injuries, which included 26 bruises, cuts, grazes and lacerations to her face, as well as internal injuries which included several broken ribs, extensive internal bruising and a shattered scapula.

Dr Parsons said: “Sheila Small had anxiety, depression, an abnormal heart rhythm, kidney disease, arthritis, cholesterol problems and early-onset Alzheimer’s.

“None of these conditions had any links to her death.

“She had bruising to her head, face, arms, torso and legs, and a significant amount of internal bruising to the back.

“Mrs Small had two black eyes, and cuts, bruises and grazes all over her face and neck, and lacerations to her head.

“Objects used as weapons or hard surfaces are more likely to cause lacerations.”

She had two lacerations on the back of her head cut all the way down to her skull.

“Mrs Small had a number of bruises and grazes to the front of her torso,” continued Dr Parsons.

“There was patchy bruising, which is indicative of blunt force.

“Bruising essentially encompassed her entire arms and hands on both sides. Only her fingertips were not bruised, and she had one broken index finger too.”

Bruising continued prominently on her legs, covering a 35x21cm area on her right leg, and 30x24cm on her left. Dr Parsons also said there were signs of “tramline bruising”.

He added: “Bruising in these areas raised the possibility of tramline bruising, the mechanism of injury could be by a rod-like instrument.

“When the rod hits the skin, it tears blood vessels on either side while the centre stays relatively intact. This creates a ‘tramline’ of bruises.”

Prosecutor David Brooke QC asked Dr Parsons if this could be caused by a walking stick or rolling pin - blood soaked items found in the house by police - and he said they could have been.

Internally, Mrs Small sustained a shattered scapula - shoulder blade - along with a broken collarbone and several fractured ribs.

There was a area of swelling 18cm in diameter to the back of her head, bleeding inside her skull, and bruising around the voicebox.

Dr Parsons said these were caused “from heavy impact”.

She also had extensive internal bruising on her back 9cm in diameter covering her shoulder blade, 13x10cm of bruising to her trapezius muscle, and bruising under the muscle over her spine.

A report by neuropathologist Dr Daniel Du Plessis said the amount of blood on Mrs Small’s brain was “negligible, but does identify a traumatic head injury”, which Dr Parsons said he agreed with.