Andover man was stabbed 27 times with knife, trials hears

As previously reported, Winter Swan-Miller is on trial at Winchester Crown Court charged with the murder of Stuart Maxwell Crocker, 62, who was found dead at The Signals, in New Street, Andover, on June 28, last year.

Police investigations found that veteran Mr Crocker might have been killed in the early hours of June 23, but was only discovered five days later when a neighbour phoned 999 concerned for his welfare.

READ MORE: Court updates: Winter Swan-Miller stands trial accused of murdering Andover man

On Tuesday, May 28, Home Office pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffery, who carried out the post-mortem on Mr Crocker, gave evidence. 

She said that she went to The Signals on June 28 alongside police crime scene investigators to examine the body and the scene.

Dr Jeffery said that the body had been found lying between a sofa and a coffee table, with the body covered by a blanket and the head covered by a pillowcase which had been placed over it.

Discussing the post-mortem, Dr Jeffery said that 27 “sharp wounds” were discovered in clusters across Mr Crocker’s body, ranging from stab wounds to incisions to smaller puncture wounds.

She said that the wounds were likely caused by a knife, saying: “The wounds had one pointed edge and one blunted edge.

SEE ALSO: Winter Swan-Miller killed man in self-defence, jury hears

“It was suggested that it was a single edge knife.”

The injuries were described as “separate injuries” which would have required the knife to have been fully removed from the body before the next one was inflicted. The largest wound was discovered on the right side of Mr Crocker’s neck, just above his collarbone.

Dr Jeffery said that the injury was found to be 7cm long and 2.7cm wide.

She said: “We know that whatever caused this injury was 7cm or more in length. At a point 7cm from its tip it was 2.7cm wide.”

The trial continues.