HOSPICE worker Nicola West had more than 30 injuries when she was found dead in the boot of a car, a court heard today.The 34-year-old, had a catalogue of injuries to her neck, arms, knee, eyelids, jaw and groin, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

HOSPICE worker Nicola West had more than 30 injuries when she was found dead in the boot of a car, a court heard today.

The 34-year-old, had a catalogue of injuries to her neck, arms, knee, eyelids, jaw and groin, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

The jury in the trial of Robert McCarry and Paul Waters, who are being tried for the woman's murder as well as rape and attempted rape offences, was shown photographs of Miss West's body - naked apart from her bra - stuffed into the boot of a car.

Benjamin Swift, a home office pathologist took the court through the series of injuries found on the body of the St Elizabeth Hospice Distribution Manager.

Dr Swift said the injuries to Miss West's neck could have been caused by either manual strangulation - using the fingertips - or by a form of ligature used on her neck.

In total Miss West had 35 external injuries plus further injuries internally.

Dr Swift who carried out the post mortem examination on Miss West also told the court there was evidence that she had been a heavy drinker and had suffered from depression.

Dr Swift took the stand on the fifth day of the trial of McCarry and Waters.

McCarry, 36, of Vernon Street, Ipswich and Waters, 29, of Sandpiper Road, Ipswich have denied murdering Miss West in February.

McCarry has also denied two offences of raping Miss West of Leather Bottle Hill, Little Blakenham on February 8 while Waters has denied attempting to rape Miss West and aiding and abetting McCarry on one of the rape charges.

Both men have denied perverting the course of justice and McCarry has denied a further offence of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

It has been alleged that McCarry raped Miss West in a flat in Vernon Street after meeting her in a town centre pub and had then raped her again and strangled her after Waters drove them to an area near the dry ski slope at Wherstead.

Waters is alleged to have attempted to rape Miss West in the car before her death. The men are alleged to have driven around for two days with her body in the back of the car before handing themselves in at Ipswich Police Station.

The trial continues.