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Trial told victim was 'violent' Woman's body 'found in suitcase'
(about 2 hours later)
A jury has heard alleged murder victim Kirsty Grabham was "frequently violent" to a former partner. A lorry driver has told a murder jury how he found the body of sex worker Kirsty Grabham, 24, in a suitcase near the M4 at Bridgend, south Wales.
Jonathan Draper said he lived with her before she met and married her husband Paul Grabham, who is accused of beating and strangling her to death. Julian Bristow made the discovery in undergrowth on 6 April last year, Swansea Crown Court heard.
Mr Grabham denies killing her at their flat in Swansea and dumping her body in a suitcase near the M4 motorway. The jury later heard a police scenes of crime officer believed the case had been dropped from the motorway above.
Mr Draper told the court sex worker Mrs Grabham often "disappeared" for days on end without saying where she was going. Mrs Grabham's husband Paul, 26, denies killing her at their flat in Swansea after a night out and dumping her body.
Mr Bristow described how he saw the suitcase in the undergrowth off a lane which the motorway passed over.
He said he partially opened it and saw what looked like a hand with a gold ring on the wedding finger.
Mr Bristow said he thought it must have been a mannequin.
But once he had opened it further he saw "a mass of matted hair" and realised it was the body of a woman.
The police were immediately called to the scene.
Forensic tests
Detective Constable Gary Evans, a scenes of crime officer, told the jury it was his belief that the suitcase had ended up in the undergrowth where it was discovered because it had been pushed from the motorway above.
The jury heard from a gastroenterologist - Dr John Payne - who studied the contents of Mrs Grabham's stomach which the prosecution said enabled them to put the time of death at around 0400 GMT.
That was the time they claim Mr Grabham murdered his wife.
The jury also heard from Mrs Grabham's former partner who said she had been "frequently violent" to him.
Jonathan Draper said he lived with her before she met and married Mr Grabham, who is accused of beating and strangling her to death.
Mr Draper told the court, Mrs Grabham often "disappeared" for days on end without saying where she was going.
Violent relationship
He said they argued regularly and sometimes Mrs Grabham would telephone the police.He said they argued regularly and sometimes Mrs Grabham would telephone the police.
On Christmas Day in 2007 they had a final "violent domestic" and he left for good.On Christmas Day in 2007 they had a final "violent domestic" and he left for good.
He told the jury at Swansea Crown Court: "She regularly went missing, once for five days."He told the jury at Swansea Crown Court: "She regularly went missing, once for five days."
When she returned she would not tell him where she had been, he added.When she returned she would not tell him where she had been, he added.
On Tuesday the jury will be taken to the flat to inspect what the prosecution say is the murder scene.On Tuesday the jury will be taken to the flat to inspect what the prosecution say is the murder scene.
Greg Taylor, prosecuting, said the case against 26-year-old Mr Grabham was that he attacked his wife in the early hours of March 29, packed her body into a suitcase and dumped it next to the M4 motorway near Bridgend. Greg Taylor, prosecuting, said the case against Mr Grabham was that he attacked his wife in the early hours of March 29, packed her body into a suitcase and dumped it next to the M4 motorway near Bridgend.
The trial continues.The trial continues.