Isle of Sheppey alleged murder victim dies of chest injuries after assault, court hears

A 16-year-old girl and two boys aged 15 and 16 are on trial at Woolwich Crown Court for the murder of Alexander Cashford, 49, in Leysdown-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, on August 10 last year.

Prosecutors say Mr Cashford was chased and hit with rocks and a bottle before was found lying face down in mud.

Jurors were previously told that the 49-year-old had given the girl his number on August 8 after meeting her at an amusement arcade.

Using the fake name Sienna, the trio exchanged messages with Mr Cashford and arranged to meet him by the sea wall on August 10.

When Mr Cashford met with the 16-year-old girl, the pair walked together along the seafront while the two teenage boys followed behind, jurors have heard.

The court has been told that at one point, the 16-year-old boy picked up an empty glass bottle.

Police found a video recording on the 16-year-old boy's phone, which prosecutors say was filmed by the girl, in which she is said to shout "f** paedophile, I'm f** 16" and "get him".

A post-mortem examination showed Mr Cashford had injuries to his face and head, bruises on his limbs and body, and a number of fractured ribs that had punctured his lung, the court previously heard.

Giving evidence on Monday, forensic pathologist Dr Anna Biddlestone, who carried out the post mortem, told jurors Mr Cashford had more than 30 external injuries on his body, including bruising, grazes and cuts.

Asked by prosecutor Kate Blumgart KC what she believes the most likely cause of death is, Dr Biddlestone said: "Chest injuries, because in my view that is the most likely mechanism by which the assault has impacted his death.

"And also ischaemic heart disease."

The jury has been told that Mr Cashford had previously suffered a heart attack and had a stent fitted.

Dr Biddlestone said she found six of his left ribs were fractured and said that while ribs can be fractured during resuscitation, all the fractures being on one side is "extremely uncommon".

"In my view they (the rib fractures) are far more likely to be due to inflicted trauma - as a consequence of assault," Dr Biddlestone told the court.

Prosecutors allege the 16-year-old boy kicked Mr Cashford's chest.

Asked by Danny Moore KC, defending, whether a single kick could fracture six ribs, Dr Biddlestone said it would depend on which part of the foot was used, and the size of the foot.

There was at least 500ml of blood in Mr Cashford's left chest cavity, the pathologist said.

She said Mr Cashford also had injuries in "protected sites", meaning areas of the body which would be unlikely to hit the ground during a fall, including on his neck and on bones near his eyes.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, previously pleaded guilty to a secondary charge of manslaughter.

The girl and the 15-year-old boy deny manslaughter and all three defendants deny murder.

The trial continues on Tuesday.