Pathologist tells murder trial that physical assault is the 'only plausible explanation' for the death of man found at Leeds flat with over 100 injuries

Dr Michael Parsons gave evidence today at the trial of a man accused of murdering 32-year-old Daniel Jeffrey at the flat near to the Royal Armouries.

Flat owner James Macken, 32, denies murder over the discovery of Mr Jeffrey's body on April 13 last year.Dr Parsons, a Home Office forensic pathologist, told the jury he examined Mr Jeffrey's body following the incident.

The doctor said he had found 110 injuries to the head and body "at a conservative estimate."

The injuries included nine rib fractures thought to have been caused within 24 hours before Mr Jeffrey's death.

Mr Jeffrey had multiple wounds to his neck, forehead, chest, abdomen and limbs.

He had lost over a litre of blood internally caused by an injury to his spleen.

Dr Parson's said Mr Jeffrey suffered a cut to his leg which went down to his shin bone, causing a pool of blood on the carpet of the bedroom where the body was discovered.

The bedroom of the flat at Balmoral Place, Bowman Lane, Brewery Wharf, was described as being "messy".

Dr Parsons told the jury that most of Mr Jeffrey's body was on a mattress.

A part-full bottle of vodka, cleaning materials, broken glass and a damaged bedside cabinet were in the room.

The court has heard how Mr Jeffrey was an alcoholic.

Dr Parsons said he could find no evidence linking the death to Mr Jeffrey's alcohol addiction.

He told the court: "Mr Jeffrey's death is best explained by a combination of multiple injuries.

"That is what I have given as the cause of death.

"I can't point to a specific injury and say 'well he would not have survived that'.

"I just think it is the whole picture."

Prosecutor Chloe Hudson asked Dr Parsons how he thought Mr Jeffrey could have received the injuries.

He said: "In my view, after consideration of all scenarios, the only explanation that accounts for the totality of all the injuries, and therefore his death, has to be physical assault.

"I simply can't conceive of another scenario that would explain things."

The trial has heard how Mr Jeffrey had gone to stay with Macken less than a week before his death.

During that time Macken was filmed on CCTV on a number of occasions going to his local Sainsbury's store to buy vodka, cigarettes and wine.

Mr Jeffrey was last seen alive at the store on April 11 when he used Macken's credit card to buy vodka and Lucozade.

Mr Jeffrey did not appear to be in any discomfort on the footage.

Neighbours later heard banging coming from Macken's flat that was so loud it could be heard over the sound of the TV.

They described the sound as being "like furniture banging against a wall."

Macken called emergency services to his home and Mr Jeffrey was pronounced dead by paramedics at 3.38pm.

The prosecution claims MrJeffrey received the fatal injuries as a result of an unlawful assault.

The trial continues.