Colchester: Helen not dragged to river, trial told

9:42am Friday 25th April 2008

A forensic expert has dismissed stories told by two teenagers of how a young woman met her death in a river.

A murder trial jury has been told the youths blamed each other for the alleged murder of Helen Maughan, telling police she had been dragged to the banks of the River Colne in Colchester.

But Chelmsford Crown Court heard how a detailed examination of the body of Miss Maughan ruled out the version of events described by the teenagers.

The youths, aged 13 and 16 at the time of the incident, deny the murder.

The prosecution has alleged they murdered Miss Maughan near Quilters pub, Middleborough, two days before her body was discovered in the river.

The younger of the two told police he watched as his friend dragged Miss Maughan to the river by her wrists and then asked him to help throw her in.

When he refused, he said his friend kicked her and she fell into the water.

The older youth has claimed he had smoked a cannabis joint and fell asleep. When he woke up, the younger boy was dragging an unconscious Miss Maughan towards the river by her ankles.

The jury of six men and six women were told there were a total of 22 injuries found on Miss Maughan's body, ranging from bruising to abrasions which were consistent with being hit by fists or feet.

Marks on her arms and legs were consistent with someone gripping them and there were also small abrasions on her body, which could have been made when her body was in contact with vegetation such as bracken.

However, pathologist Dr David Rouse told the jury there were no marks on the body which would indicate Miss Maughan had been dragged to the river.

Dr Rouse said he would have expected to have found cuts or abrasions on the body if this had been the case.

He told the jury: "If she had been dragged by the ankles, I would expect to see drag marks on her buttocks, back and head - marks not seen here."

Dr Rouse added: "If dragged by the wrists, I would expect to see marks from the buttocks down."

He also told the jury the marks on Miss Maughan's wrists and calves were consistent with them being gripped.

Taking these factors into account, Dr Rouse said: "You have the reasonable conclusion that she was carried by two people."

The youths, now 14 and 17, deny murdering Miss Maughan, of Propelair Way, Colchester, between May 17 and May 20.

• The trial continues

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