Jurors yesterday heard upsetting details about how Carole Wright died.
Pathologist Dr Brett Lockyer explained the cause of the 62-year-old’s death was obstruction of her upper airway from her eyeball, which prosecutors say was removed by son Daniel O’Hara Wright.
It was thought likely she was unconscious at the time, having been subject to the sustained attack in woodland at Watlington Hill, Christmas Common, jurors were told.
In total, she had 93 ‘areas of injury’. She had been strangled, there were bite marks on her wrist and a number of broken ribs suggested her chest was stamped on. She had extensive bruising to her head and fractures to bones in her face.
Cross-examined by O’Hara Wright’s barrister, Mark Graffius QC, Dr Lockyer was asked if he considered the injuries ‘bizarre’. He said he did.
Mr Graffius followed up: "Again, as a pathologist these would be injuries you would expect an expert psychiatrist to consider." The doctor agreed.
Forensics officers at the scene of the alleged murder in Watlington Hill Picture: OM
O'Hara Wright also had a number of injuries, jurors heard.
A 'thermal injury' pointed to him being electrocuted in the arm. The limb later had to be amputated.
Blunt force trauma injuries were consistent with him being involved in a crash with a car, Dr Lockyer said.
The defendant had cuts to his body, including to his genitals, the jury was told.
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On Tuesday afternoon, footage from a police officer’s bodyworn camera showed the moment O’Hara Wright was discovered in the bathroom of a Christmas Common farmhouse. He had meditated and ‘napped’ in the shower room, he told officers.
In the video, he could be seen with a deep gash in his thigh.
"Everything in my life is completely bizarre and weird," he told PC James Cartwright.
He appeared to admit to killing his mother, but said she was not the same woman he had known all his life.
He said: "She was completely off, her whole temperament was toxic and she was trying to lure me."
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford Picture: OM
Behaviour in hospital
PC Ben Lewis wrote in a witness statement of being hit in the face by a mixture of spittle and faeces as he tried to restrain O’Hara Wright in the John Radcliffe Hospital intensive care ward.
He was at the Oxford hospital for treatment to his extensive injuries.
In the early hours of November 1, he made bizarre comments to police officers and nursing staff – accusing them of being aliens and trying to steal his blood. He also spoke about the alleged murder of his mother, despite warnings from police officers that he was under caution.
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Later that morning, after 7am, the police officers helped nursing staff as O’Hara Wright began acting out while defecating into a bed pan, jurors heard.
PC Lewis and his colleague said O’Hara Wright was smeared in excrement, including around his mouth. He was said to have spat excrement at PC Lewis.
Defendant hit by Ford Kuga
Yesterday morning, driver Louise Townsend described the moment her Ford Kuga struck O’Hara Wright outside Watlington Park on the afternoon of October 23.
“He sat in the passenger seat and said 'I fell from the sky' or 'I've fallen from the sky'. He said 'do I [Ms Townsend] believe in God?'” she said.
She had not replied as she was ‘too frightened’.
Ms Townsend said she’d flashed her headlights at an oncoming car in an attempt to signal danger.
As they stopped, a tussle broke out over a handbag and business papers in the passenger footwell. He let go then ran from the car.
Another eye-witness who was asked by O’Hara Wright to drive him said he had ‘crazy flared eyes’.
Nettlebed Henley, Christmas Common Picture: GOOGLE
Murder allegations denied
O’Hara Wright, of Regent Avenue, Uxbridge, denies murder. The trial continues.
Today, jurors are expected to hear from psychiatrists.
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