Hannah Foster may have struggled and scratched at the hands of her killer as she was strangled to death, a court has heard.

The 17-year-old's body was found in a bramble-filled ditch in Southampton, on March 16, 2003 - two days after she disappeared near her home

Pathologist Dr Hugh White told the court she had suffered scratches, probably caused by brambles to the front and back of her body, her hands and top of her legs.

Some of the "bramble-type" scratches appeared to have been caused while she was alive while others were caused after death, the jury heard.

Dr White said Hannah suffered "pin-point haemorrhages" to her face and eyes which he explained were "classic symptoms of a neck being compressed".

He said that she also suffered bruising to the neck and to her windpipe and there was a 6cm scratch to her neck caused by a fingernail.

"I suspect the process took longer than 15 to 30 seconds because she has a significant number of injuries to her neck.

"The fingernail scratch could have been the assailant or Hannah herself scratching the hands of her assailant."

There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol in her system, he said, and the cause of death was "manual strangulation".

Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, 40, a sandwich delivery van driver, is accused of her murder, rape, kidnap and false imprisonment, but denies all charges.

The trial continues.


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