Baby Jordans murder

It was testified that the single wound which killed Jordan-Leigh was applied with such force that it severed the airway and left incisions on the vertebrae.


"The cause of death was a penetrating, incisive wound to the neck and the consequences thereof,"

Van der Heyde said that, besides the trachea, damage also was caused to the oesophagus (gullet), the left jugular vein, and the left vertebral artery.

The spinal cord was intact.

She said the six-month-old baby, who was received at the mortuary in a nappy, measured 63cm from head to heel, weighed eight kilograms, had a small physique and good nutrition.

"(Her) face and neck (was) covered in blood."

Van der Heyde said the wound was 2.7cm long and had regular, sharp edges, "consistent with that caused by a sharp object".

She could not say what type of weapon was used, but it could have been a knife.

Van der Heyde said the baby would have bled to death in less than 10 minutes.