Murdered woman had 70 bruise wounds, jury told

Lisa Paris was found dead in Plymouth on March 18

A 54-year-old woman may have been murdered 10 days before her body was found.

Mark Fitzgerald, 62, has denied murdering Lisa Paris who was discovered dead at his flat in Rendle Street, Plymouth, on 18 March 2024.

A jury at Plymouth Crown Court heard Miss Paris had not been seen in person or on CCTV, and her phone had not been used, since 8 March.

Forensic pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffery told the jury on Friday that Ms Paris had suffered 70 bruise wounds to her head, neck, body arms and legs.

She said some were blunt force injuries and those around her neck could have been caused by finger-grip wounds.

Dr Jeffery could not give a precise cause or time of death but said the injuries indicated a suspicion of physical assaults around the time of her death.

Prosecutor Adam Vaitilingam said Ms Paris, a mother of four, and Mr Fitzgerald had been together for eight years and both had flats in a building in Rendle Street but did not live together.

The court heard Ms Paris acted like a carer to Mr Fitzgerald and she told her daughter that he could be violent.

One of her friends said Ms Paris told him that Mr Fitzgerald kicked and punched her in attacks, and the defendant was arrested for assault in 2020.

The jury heard a maintenance man went to Mr Fitzgerald's flat on 9 March and saw a quilt covering or hiding something on the floor.

Mr Fitzgerald told police he woke up on 18 March and found Ms Paris unconscious in his flat. The court heard he was rambling and could give no explanation of any injuries on her body but later said she was prone to falling over.

The trial continues.