Harlow murder trial: Man had 'uncontrollable blood loss'

Max Richardson, 35, from Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, died in the ambulance on the way to hospital

A man experienced a "torrential and uncontrollable blood loss" after he was stabbed with a machete near a playground, a pathologist told a court.

Max Richardson, 35, died after an altercation in Joyners Field in Harlow, Essex, in August.

Tieran Carmody, 19, of Berecroft, Harlow, is on trial accused of murder.

Pathologist Dr Virginia Fitzpatrick-Swallow said the weapon had torn Mr Richardson's vena cava, which is the largest vein in the body.

It can be potentially salvageable in hospital during surgery but "in an event that happened out of hospital - there is nothing you can compress it with".

'Defensive injuries'

Mr Richardson, who was from Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, died in the ambulance on the way to hospital from a single stab wound to his torso.

Before he was stabbed Mr Richardson and a neighbour had confronted a teenager who was scaring children in the area.

Mr Carmody threw a punch at the victim and all three men ended up on the ground, before Mr Carmody walked towards his bicycle to retrieve a foot-long machete, the court heard.

Mr Richardson put his hands up in surrender, as did the other adults at the scene, but the defendant stabbed the victim in "an act of revenge" because Mr Carmody was not willing to be challenged on what he was doing there, said prosecutor Andrew Jackson.

The jurors were told a post-mortem examination had found that Mr Richardson sustained a 31cm (12 inch) wound on his body.

Dr Fitzpatrick-Swallow said the victim had sustained other injuries that appeared to have occurred as a natural reaction in an attempt to try and shield himself.

"The injuries would fall in the category of defensive injuries but that doesn't mean that is the only explanation," said Dr Fitzpatrick-Swallow.

Mr Jackson asked Dr Fitzpatrick-Swallow if she could determine whether the victim had been stabbed with force and she said "at least moderate force" had been used.

Harrison Barnett, 19, of St Mary's Crescent, Basildon, Essex, is also on trial accused of perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.

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