A FORENSIC pathologist giving evidence in the case of a Whitehaven man accused of murder said the alleged victim was subjected to “severe force”.

Tiffany Render, 34, suffered blood loss which was so severe she would have collapsed within 20 minutes and died within an hour, forensic Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers told Carlisle Crown Court.

He was giving evidence on day three of Paul Irwin’s trial. Dr Rodgers described in detail the injuries suffered by Miss Render.

She was found after Irwin called the ambulance service shortly after midnight on March 22, telling the call handler he had woken to find Miss Render lying dead in bed beside him.

Despite attempts by the ambulance crew and the defendant to revive her, she was confirmed dead at 12.27am. The court has earlier heard statements from police officers who were called to the scene.

They described finding blood all over the flat, including in the hallway, the bathroom, the living room, the bedroom and on the bed.

In his evidence, Dr Rodgers said Miss Render – weighing eight and a half stones and 5ft 1in tall – had suffered extensive internal injuries, with the heavy bleeding caused by the tearing and shredding of tissue.

Prosecutor Iain Simkin KC asked the pathologist: “Are you able to assist us with the degree of force?” Dr Rodgers replied: “It had to be severe force.”

He believed Miss Render would have been in such “severe" pain that she would not have been able to sleep. The prosecutor then asked about the likely effect of the injury on Miss Render.

Losing blood from such an injury would lead to her collapse within 20 minutes, said Dr Rodgers. Mr Simkin said: “You would expect her to have collapsed within 20 minutes and to be deceased within an hour?”

“Probably, yes,” said Dr Rodgers.

The barrister asked the pathologist whether it was reasonable to suggest Miss Render, after suffering that injury, could have gone back to bed to sleep. Dr Rodgers said: “I find it difficult to see how a woman who was bleeding so heavily would be able to do that.”

Asked further questions about the degree of force he believed had caused the injury to Miss Render, Dr Rodgers agreed that “multiple” and “repeated blows” offered the most likely explanation.

The court heard also that toxicology investigations confirmed Miss Render (pictured below) had consumed enough alcohol to make her approximately two and a half times the legal limit for driving.(Image: Family photo)

There was also evidence she consumed antidepressant medication, cocaine, and the pain relief drug Tramadol.

Under cross-examination from Peter Glenser KC, Dr Rodgers confirmed it was the first time he had seen the kind of  injuries suffered by Tiffany Render.  He accepted that cocaine had analgesic [pain killing] properties.

He accepted also that anybody who mixed cocaine, alcohol and Tramadol was running a “serious risk.”

The barrister suggested the sexual activity between the defendant and Miss Render may have taken place over “some hours.” Dr Rodgers said he could not know that but, referring to Miss Render’s internal tear injury, he added: “That injury is due to repeated force; I don’t think you would get that injury from one impact.

“I just don’t think it is possible… I think there has been blunt force trauma involved. I have never seen this kind of injury before.”

In cross examination, Mr Simkin asked Dr Rodgers whether the term “blunt force trauma” is a phrase used to describe an assault. “It is, yes,” replied the doctor.

Irwin, of George Street, Whitehaven, denies murder and a sexual offence. He claims Miss Render’s death from a “catastrophic fatal haemorrhage” was the accidental result of consensual sexual activity.

The trial continues.