Mum Kym Cobby died from “minutes’’ of neck compression

A pathologist says it would have taken minutes of neck compression, with sustained pressure beyond unconsciousness, to kill Kym Cobby, who was found dead outside her Gold Coast hinterland house.

A forensic pathologist has told a court that a woman whose bloodied body was found in her driveway died as a result of neck compression that would have lasted for minutes.

Dr Alex Olumbe, Queensland Health’s acting chief forensic pathologist, also detailed several other non-fatal injuries suffered by mother-of-three Kym Cobby.

He said lacerations to Ms Cobby’s head were most likely caused by blunt force trauma with the edge of a hammer, but none were potentially fatal.

Ms Cobby’s estranged husband Andrew Cobby, 59, is standing trial in Brisbane Supreme Court, accused of murdering the mother-of-three in November, 2017.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Andrew Cobby being taken into Southport Watchhouse after being charged with the murder of his wife Kym. Photo: 9 Gold Coast News

At the start of the trial, Crown prosecutor Philip McCarthy said the Crown alleged a hammer was used in the attack on Ms Cobby, but the medical evidence was that she died from asphyxia.

Dr Olumbe agreed with Mr McCarthy that it would need sustained pressure beyond unconsciousness to kill someone by applying neck compression.

He said the presence of petechial or pinpoint haemorrhaging in Ms Cobby’s eyes and cheeks, some of which had joined together, would have resulted from sustained application of force for a protracted time.

Murder victim Kym Cobby.

An examination of Ms Cobby’s brain, by another doctor, also found petechial haemorrhaging similar to those on her eyes and cheeks, likely from blunt force trauma or asphyxiation.

Dr Olumbe said he believed neck compression caused the death by leading to blockage of blood vessels and airways resulting in petechial haemorrhaging in the brain.

There were three distinct bruises on the right side of Ms Cobby’s upper neck and two smaller bruises on the left side, which Dr Olumbe agreed were consistent with force of pressure from fingers.

The pathologist said the edged surface of a hammer could have caused the lacerations to Ms Cobby’s scalp.

Other injuries likely caused by a hammer included bruises to Ms Cobby’s left shoulder, bruises to her elbow and forearm and lacerations to her eyebrows.

Ms Cobby had abrasive injuries on her left elbow, hip, knee, shin and both hands that were consistent with being dragged across a rough surface, the pathologist said.

The jury was shown a photo of Ms Cobby’s body, lying with her head on a concrete gutter, with blood on the gutter and grass..

It is alleged Mr Cobby borrowed his flatmate’s car and a hammer, both of which were found near Ms Cobby’s dead body.

The trial is continuing.

Kym Cobby with her daughter Ella.

Originally published as Mum Kym Cobby died from “minutes’’ of neck compression