‘Fatal cocktail’ which led to death of mum
COCAINE, asphyxia and assault have been described as a “fatal cocktail” which led to the death of 27-year-old Nuneaton woman Dionne Clark at a house in the town in June this year.
The body of the mum-of-four was discovered at a house in Cornish Close in Nuneaton on June 17 this year.
She had been at the house the previous evening with Dominic Wallis and Elizabeth Ellis who are both on trial at Birmingham Crown Court charged with her murder.
Also on trial are Wallis’ parents Karen and Kingsley Wallis, who are charged with perverting the course of justice. All four deny the charges.
Yesterday’s proceedings focused on medical matters with forensic pathologist Dr Brett Lockyer giving evidence.
Dr Lockyer carried out two post mortems on Dionne Clark, the first at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW) on June 18. A second post mortem was carried out on June 21.
He said the post mortem started by examining injuries to Dionne Clark and that this was done to produce a body map of injuries.
Most of the injuries were to her head and face but also to her chest, abdomen, arms and legs and most involved bruising.
Dr Lockyer said Ms Clark had suffered obvious trauma to both eye areas and injuries to her mouth.
Dr Lockyer said concentrations of cocaine were detected that were consistent with recent abuse of the drug. Levels of diazepam were also detected, which were consistent with therapeutic use.
Asked what his conclusions were Dr Lockyer said: “I have my opinion as narrative - blunt force injuries to the head causing traumatic brain injuries in a woman who had been using cocaine and was forcibly restrained.”
The court heard Dr Lockyer had consulted with a Home Office pathologist, Dr Hamilton, who was instructed by the defence to carry out a post mortem examination. They had reached agreement as to the mechanisms which caused Ms Clark’s death.
They both agreed cocaine, restraint and assault had caused her death.
Dr Lockyer said: “It is the interplay between the three of them.
“It is rather like a triangle. If you take away a corner you don’t have a triangle.
“Each played an equal part in causing this.”
When pressed on what caused Ms Clark to die, Dr Lockyer replied: “It is difficult to be absolutely certain. We can only give suggestions based on our experience.
“It could be her heart going into a funny rhythm - through restraint or cocaine.
“It would have been some other aspect of upper airway obstruction.
“Blunt force head injuries may have resulted in lack of consciousness.”
Questioning Dr Lockyer, Elizabeth Ellis’s barrister Adrian Keeling said: “The head injuries are not ones that you would expect a person to die from?”
Dr Lockyer replied: “That is correct.”
Continuing his questioning Mr Keeling said: “These are the three factors we have to bear in mind cocaine, asphyxia and assault and can’t put one above the other as it’s impossible to say?”
Dominic Wallis’s barrister Christopher Millington then questioned Dr Lockyer and said: “It is not possible to determine the precise cause of death?”
Dr Lockyer said that was the case and added: “That is the reason for a narrative cause of death.”
Stressing the case was different to many that come before the courts, Mr Millington added: “What you and Dr Hamilton have concluded here is that death resulted from a combination of factors - what you called in this particular case the triangle because there are essentially three factors here.”
“Having considered the traumatic injuries, that these injuries of themselves would not have caused death here - we have to bring into the equation the two other factors you have mentioned.”
Mr Millington described the three contributory factors in Dionne Clark’s death - cocaine, asphyxia and assault as “a fatal cocktail” - adding the phrase was one used by Dr Lockyer himself in his report. The trial continues.