The pathologist who examined the body of west Auckland woman Carly Stewart the day after she was killed has described to a court the fatal wound she suffered.
Dr Thambirajah Balachandra told the High Court in Auckland there was a stab wound on the left side of the face that penetrated through the jugular vein and into the throat.
Anna Eiao Browne has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 36-year-old Carly Stewart in Te Atatu last year.
On Monday, it was established that a single strike with a massive knife had resulted in the death of Ms Stewart at the nail and eyelash party.
Prosecutors say Browne grabbed the knife from the kitchen before she stabbed her victim. The prosecution says the knife had a 25cm blade. They said it was the biggest in the butcher's block and had earlier been used to make guacamole.
Dr Balachandra concluded Ms Stewart died as a consequence of the stab wound - specifically from loss of blood, aspiration of blood in the airways and an air embolism in the lungs and heart.
A toxicology report found 223mg of alcohol in Ms Stewart's blood and 190mg of alcohol in her urine the day after the October 15 pamper party, at which she and several other women got their nails and eyelashes treated.
Browne does not deny causing Ms Stewart's death, but says she is not guilty of murder because she did not have murderous intent at the time the fatal blow was struck.
Newshub.
