Vicky Hamilton's body was “surprisingly well preserved” when it was recovered from the garden of a house in Kent last year, despite the time that had passed since her death in 1991, a court was told yesterday.

David Rouse, the Home Office pathologist who carried out the post-mortem examination in Margate in November last year, told the High Court in Dundee that he found internal bruising on Vicky's throat that was consistent with death from neck compression. He said that there had been no obvious signs of blunt or sharp penetrative injury, nor any evidence of natural disease or illness that might have contributed to her death.

Under questioning from Donald Findlay, QC, for the defence, Dr Rouse conceded that it was a possibility that Vicky had died from unascertained natural causes, or even from fright.

Peter Tobin, 62, denies the abduction and murder of Vicky, who went missing in Bathgate at the age of 15 on her way home to Redding, Falkirk, on February 10, 1991. He further denies cutting her body in two and attempting to conceal it to pervert the ends of justice. Mr Tobin has lodged a special alibi, saying that he was in the South of England when Vicky went missing.

The court was shown a computer graphic displaying “superficial bruising to the anterior cervical fascia” - within the neck behind the trachea. Dr Rouse said the extent of decomposition prevented precise definition of strangulation as to the cause of death.

“Pin-point bleeds” on the skin, which would have indicated this, could not be seen with decomposition such as this, the court was told.

Dr Rouse agreed that the condition of the body, which the court was told yesterday had been identified by dental records, was consistent with Vicky having been killed in February 1991, and indicated that the body had been kept in a cold, sealed environment after her death. This, he told the court, had stopped insects reaching the body and slowed the rate of decomposition.

Jurors were told that Vicky's body had been cut in two after her death. Dr Rouse was shown a knife that had been found in the loft of a house in Robertson Avenue, Bathgate, and asked if it was the type that could have been used for the dismemberment. He agreed it was.

Asked by Frank Mulholland, QC, the Solictor-General, for the prosecution, about the drug amitriptyline, Dr Rouse said that it caused sleepiness and in toxic levels could make one semi-comatose.

“If someone ingested amitriptyline would that lower their ability to defend themselves?” Mr Mulholland asked. Dr Rouse agreed that it would. Questioned at length by Mr Findlay, Dr Rouse agreed that the bruising on Vicky's throat was also consistent with her neck being gripped during a row and then released. It could also have been caused by an accident such as falling on to the arm of a sofa, a blow or a propelled fall.

“Let me put to you this proposition. This girl died as a result of natural causes, those natural causes have not been ascertained,” Mr Findlay said. “It's always a possibility, yes,” Dr Rouse said. “This girl died of fright,” Mr Findlay said.

Dr Rouse replied: “My pathologist's hat says that doesn't happen,” but conceded that she could have died of a cardiac defect.

Later, under further questioning from Mr Mulholland, Dr Rouse commented that he was “as sure as I can be” that was bruising. That bruising was consistent with violence.

The trial continues.

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