Jo Yeates 'suffered 43 injuries'

Jo Yeates suffered 43 separate injuries during a "violent struggle" when she was strangled by Vincent Tabak, a court has heardStrangling Miss Yeates "took some time" and "sufficient force was used" to kill her, Nigel Lickley QC told Bristol Crown CourtMr Lickley said Miss Yeates had head, neck, trunk and arm injuries.Tabak, a 33-year-old Dutch engineer, admits Miss Yeates's manslaughter, but denies her murder.The jury heard there was also bruising beneath Miss Yeates's skin.Tabak was said to have used his height and build to overpower the 25-year-old victim's 5ft 4ins frame"She was alive when it happened," said Mr Lickley. "Death was not instantaneous."He might have let go but he did not. He knew that Miss Yeates was in pain but struggling to breathe."He added Miss Yeates's death would have been "uncomfortable and painful".Miss Yeates' body was found on a snowy verge with her jeans still fastened and her pink top partially pulled up over her head, the jury was told.Swabs were later taken from of Miss Yeates's body and DNA matches to Tabak were found, the court heard.