Paul Alan McDonald faces committal hearing charged with murder of ex-partner Kirra-Lea McLoughlin

Horrific details of the sickening injuries suffered by a Queensland mum-of-four who allegedly died at the hands of her defacto partner have been revealed in court.

Paul McDonald, who a coroner determined killed his de facto partner Kirra-Lea McLoughlin. Picture: Supplied

Details of the sickening injuries suffered by a Queensland mum-of-four who allegedly died at the hands of her defacto partner have been revealed in court.

During a committal hearing for accused murderer Paul Alan McDonald in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Crown prosecutor David Nardone led evidence from forensic pathologist Diane Little about the autopsy of 27-year-old Kirra-Lea McLoughlin.

Dr Little concluded McLoughlin died from severe damage to her brain due to lack of oxygen or blood flow due to a head injury.

“Focusing on the bruising to the side of the brain and around to its back, are you able to comment on the number blows or the number of acts of trauma?”, Mr Nardone asked.

“I can’t give you an exact number other than to say that it is certainly more than one – it was blows to the back of her head and both sides, as well as looking on her face, there was bruising on the right and left sides of her face and forehead which would imply multiple blows,” Dr Little said.

Mr Nardone told Magistrate Andrew Moloney that Dr Little’s report stated that McLoughlin’s body showed “105 signs of recent injury”.

Kirra McLoughlin Photo Supplied

Alison Kirkness, mother of Kirra McLoughlin

“The whole of the left side of the scalp was bruised, the back of the scalp was bruised. and the right side … the only area of bruising was. pretty much above the ear,” Dr Little said.

Dr Little said she could find no evidence of strangulation.

During cross examination, McDonald’s lawyer asked Dr Little to assume a “scenario” where McLoughlin was involved in a fight at about 8pm on July 16, 2014 and the assault involved “punches or blunt-force trauma” to her head of at least four blows and that she fell over between two and four times and her head hit the wall, floor, furniture or balustrade.

McLoughlin was found unconscious at her home in Wolvi, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and died later at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

McDonald was charged with her murder eight years later on July 6, 2022.

Kirra-Lea’s family were in court for the hearing including her mum Alison Russell.

The case resumes on Friday.