A woman allegedly murdered by her partner suffered 78 injuries to her head and body, a court heard today.
Brodie MacGregor, 23, was allegedly killed by Alexander Brennan, 23, at her flat in Glasgow's Springburn on August 26, 2024. Prosecutors claim Brennan punched and slapped Brodie.
Alleged attack details
The murder charge states Brennan also repeatedly struck her on the head and body with glass bottles, some of which were broken, as well as hitting her with a microwave plate. Brennan is further said to have inflicted blunt force trauma injuries by means unknown.
Forensic pathologist Doctor Julie McAdam, 54, told jurors at the High Court in Glasgow that she did a post-mortem on Brodie. The doctor stated that Brodie's cause of death was "facial injures."
Pathologist's testimony
Prosecutor Alan Parfery asked the witness how this could cause death and she replied: "She had extensive facial injuries. There were a mixture of blunt force injuries, bruises, abrasions and lacerations. She also had severe sharp force injuries to her face, particularly her mouth."
Jurors were told that Dr McAdam's report on Brodie's death mentioned a total of 78 injuries. This included a fractured nose which would have restricted her breathing as well as blood in her throat. There was a sharp force injury to Brodie's scalp which also would have bled heavily.
Dr McAdam added: "Injuries to her mouth would have bled heavily. She lost a considerable amount of blood in her airway - her airway was full of blood as was her throat, gullet and stomach. She has tried to swallow blood and there was evidence that she breathed blood in her lungs."
Unprecedented injury
Jurors were told of a mouth injury which caused the upper and lower lips to become separated from the gumline. The doctor said: "Taking the soft tissue away from the face, I have never seen an injury like that." Mr Parfery: "You have never seen an injury like that in all your years of pathology?" Dr McAdam: "No."
The trial was told that there were potential defensive injuries to Brodie's hands.
Internally, jurors heard that Brodie suffered bleeding between the brain and thin protective lining around it. There was bruising on the outer surface of the brain. The brain also swelled with the organ receiving less oxygen-rich blood. This caused a brain injury but it did not contribute to death.
Jurors heard that this could have been caused by kicks or being struck with glass bottles. Dr McAdam told the court that Brodie would have had a survival time of one hour after sustaining her injuries.
The doctor added that she could "imagine" that Brodie would have made sounds of "coughing and spluttering" as well as her breathing to be "noisy."
Mr Parfery asked: "In your experience, let's say she sustained the facial injuries and someone phone the emergency services within five minutes, medical teams were there, what would your opinion be, would her life be capable of being survived?"
Dr McAdam: "I have not treated living patients for over 20 years...it is obvious with getting medical treatment you are more likely to survive. Her injuries were severe but there was potential for survival."
Defence cross-examination
The advocate depute suggested a scenario that the face and head injuries could be explained by someone striking Brodie with intact and broken glass and then being continued to be struck with broken glass. Dr McAdam replied: "Yes."
In cross examination, Brian McConnachie KC, defending, asked: "While there were injuries to the brain consistent with blunt force trauma, they did not cause the death?" Dr McAdam replied: "No."
Mr McConnachie later quizzed Dr McAdam about a bottle being used to cause Brodie's injuries. He said: "Rather than a bottle being pushed into the person, could it be the landing on the bottle if the bottle was already broken?" Dr McAdam replied: "Possibly."
The Crown case closed with the deletion of three charges. The murder charge is now the only charge left on the indictment for the jury to later consider. The trial continues before Judge Lord Scott.
