A Spalding woman who was found dead in her home had suffered a severe skull fracture consistent with blunt force, a jury heard today (Wednesday).
Kristine Sparane, 37, was found lying on a bed and covered in blood after police forced entry to her flat in Winsover Road, Spalding, on the evening of November 26 last year.
Officers also entered a second bedroom and discovered Brian Simpson, 64, lying on the floor with a blood coated kitchen knife next to him, the court heard. An uninjured young child was also present in the room.
Mr Simpson, of Nene Court, Spalding, has been found unfit to stand trial because of his mental health difficulties but a jury at Lincoln Crown Court are deciding if he was responsible for killing Ms Sparane.
The hearing – known as a trial of facts – today (Wednesday) heard evidence from Home Office pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton who carried out a post mortem examination on Ms Sparane.
Dr Hamilton told the jury Ms Sparane had suffered a number of lacerations to her head which were consistent with blunt force rather than a bladed object.
“It would have to be least four heavy blows, most likely more,” Dr Hamilton told the jury.
Dr Hamilton agreed the injuries were consistent with Ms Sparane’s head being closed into a door.
Blue specks of paint found on Ms Sparane’s skull were also consistent with a large pepper mill which was recovered during the investigation, Dr Hamilton confirmed.
“It was entirely consistent with it (the pepper mill) being used to strike the head,” Dr Hamilton added.
Dr Hamilton said in his opinion it was not the blows from the pepper mill which caused Ms Sparane’s death.
Bruising on Ms Sparane’s hands suggested she had been defending herself from incoming blows, Dr Hamilton explained.
One of the blows caused a severe multiple fracture to Ms Sparane’s skull which was more typical of a person being involved in a road traffic collision or falling from height, Dr Hamilton told the jury.
“This level of injury is rare, it is not something I see very often in the context of an assault,” Dr Hamilton added.
Dr Hamilton said it would have taken less than 30 minutes from the blow for Ms Sparane to die.
The jury heard Mr Simpson was found with a small stab wound near his abdomen which did not require surgery and could have been self inflicted.
The hearing continues.
