Mutilated Greenford woman 'had devastating injuries'

No treatment could have saved Mrs Aulakh's life, the pathologist said

A woman who had her hand chopped off when she was killed in a west London street suffered "devastating injuries executed with really severe force", the Old Bailey heard.

Geeta Aulakh, 28, was attacked with a machete in Greenford in November 2009.

Her husband Harpreet Aulakh is one of four men who deny murdering her.

Pathologist Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl said there were at least four "focused" and "rapid" blows to her head, and it was "unusual" to see injuries so serious.

"I do not consider it likely that any treatment given could have saved her," he added.

Mrs Aulakh died from "severe head injuries" and the mutilation of her hand was described as a defence wound.

This was done by a "heavy, extremely sharp chopping implement", Dr Fegan-Earl said.

"There are very few weapons capable of causing such a wound."

The mother-of-two, who worked as a receptionist at a radio station, was killed as she went to collect her children one afternoon.

Last month the court heard Mr Aulakh, 32, had arranged for her to be murdered after she began divorce proceedings because a divorce "would not be tolerated".

He has denied offering £5,000 to a group of men to carry out the attack.

Sher Singh, 19, of Southall, west London; Harpreet Singh, 20, of Slough, Berkshire; and Jaswant Dhillon, 30, of Ilford, east London, also deny murder.

The trial continues.