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Victoria Couchman's skull 'found by children playing' | Victoria Couchman's skull 'found by children playing' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Children played with a dead woman's skull after finding it in woodland in East Sussex, an inquest has heard. | Children played with a dead woman's skull after finding it in woodland in East Sussex, an inquest has heard. |
Youngsters made the discovery in Redgeland Wood in the Queensway area of St Leonards in October 2008. | |
Searches of the area uncovered other body parts belonging to Victoria Couchman, 19, who lived in nearby Beecham Place. | Searches of the area uncovered other body parts belonging to Victoria Couchman, 19, who lived in nearby Beecham Place. |
Her father, Tony Couchman, was charged with her murder but killed himself in prison before he faced trial. | Her father, Tony Couchman, was charged with her murder but killed himself in prison before he faced trial. |
'No burial attempt' | |
Forensic archaeologist Lucy Sibun said various body parts belonging to the woman were missing. | Forensic archaeologist Lucy Sibun said various body parts belonging to the woman were missing. |
She said: "There was no evidence of any attempt to bury. All the remains were laying on the surface without any burial. | She said: "There was no evidence of any attempt to bury. All the remains were laying on the surface without any burial. |
"No clothing and no personal possessions were found during a fingertip search." | "No clothing and no personal possessions were found during a fingertip search." |
Forensic pathologist Dr Kenneth Shorrock was unable to give a cause of death but said the "distinct possibility" was that Ms Couchman was strangled. | |
He said: "Victoria was a young woman and a common way to kill young women is to strangle them." | |
He also said it was "very unlikely" her feet and hands had been removed by a human but more likely they had been removed animals. | |
Bled to death | |
Ms Couchman went missing in May 2008 and in August 2009 her father pleaded not guilty to murdering her between 15 May and 18 May 2008. | |
He was due to stand trial in January 2010 but bled to death after slashing his arm in his cell on the wing for vulnerable inmates at HMP Lewes. | |
The 47-year-old, who had lived with his daughter in Beecham Place, was also accused of perverting the course of justice. He had denied both charges. | The 47-year-old, who had lived with his daughter in Beecham Place, was also accused of perverting the course of justice. He had denied both charges. |
The inquest into the death is being held at Hastings Magistrates Court. | The inquest into the death is being held at Hastings Magistrates Court. |