A FORENSIC pathologist who conducted the autopsy on Carly McBride said it was "possible" the multiple fractures the mother-of-two suffered to her back could have been caused by being hit by a truck, a Newcastle Supreme Court jury has heard.
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But another medical expert, forensic anthropologist Dr Penny McCardle, said the injuries were unlikely to have been caused by the bumper bar of a truck and were more consistent with Ms McBride being struck with a piece of wood across her back, forcibly shoved against a fence or hit with a boot.
Sayle Kenneth Newson, 43, Ms McBride's boyfriend of about eight weeks at the time of her disappearance, is on trial in Newcastle Supreme Court accused of murdering Ms McBride at Muswellbrook on September 30, 2014, and dumping her body in bush about 25 metres from Bunnan Road at Owens Gap.
Ms McBride's body was found nearly two years later in August, 2016.
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Dr McCardle gave evidence on Tuesday, telling the jury Ms McBride suffered 23 fractures to her face and head and 13 fractures to her back, which were all caused at the time of her death and all consistent with blunt force trauma.
Under cross-examination from defence barrister Chris Watson, Dr McCardle initially said it was "unlikely but could have been" that the injuries to Ms McBride's back were caused by a truck bumper bar.
Dr McCardle later said the injuries would not have been caused by a truck because there would have been other fractures and injuries to Ms McBride's neck, arms or chest.
Dr Leah Clifton, who conducted the autopsy on Ms McBride, opined that Ms McBride had died as a result of blunt force head injuries.
Again, under cross-examination from Mr Watson, Dr Clifton was asked if the injuries to Ms McBride's ribs, shoulder blades and spine - described as a "horizontal plane" across her back - were consistent with her being hit by a truck.
"It is possible, yes," Dr Clifton replied.
The trial continues.