Murder trial told woman took 'likely fatal' cocaine dose

A woman allegedly murdered by her partner died with three times the amount of cocaine in her system than would "likely be fatal", a court has heard.

Olivia Wood, 29, of Northwich, Cheshire, was found by paramedics in a serious condition at her partner Kieron Goodwin's flat in Frome, Somerset, on 30 July 2024.

She died in hospital later that day, with the prosecution claiming Mr Goodwin had fatally strangled her.

Mr Goodwin, 33, is accused of conducting a campaign of controlling behaviour against Ms Wood during a three-month relationship. He has denied murder and causing grievous bodily harm, but has admitted a charge of coercive control against her.

As a witness for the defence, toxicologist Dr Stephen Morley - who told Bristol Crown Court earlier that he had appeared as an expert witness for both the defence and prosecution in around 200 cases - gave evidence on the role of cocaine in Ms Woods' death.

He explained to the court that while it was impossible to tell exactly how much cocaine had been consumed as the drug quickly breaks down in the body, toxicologists commonly screened for benzoylecgonine (BZE).

This chemical compound is a byproduct of cocaine as it is metabolized in the body, with samples from both Ms Woods and Mr Goodwin suggesting both had taken large quantities of the drug.

Samples taken before Ms Woods' death showed she had around seven micrograms of BZE per litre of blood, while Mr Goodwin had around half of that.

Dr Morley told this level was in the top 2.5% of cases his laboratory had seen, adding statistics from post-mortem examinations involving cocaine showed that of people who had died from cocaine toxicity, the average level of BZE in their blood sample was 1.8 micrograms of BZE per litre of blood.

Ms Woods results showed "three times what toxicologists would be comfortable describing as 'likely to be fatal'," Dr Morley said, though added: "There is no single concentration where you can definitively say death will occur."

He was unable to confirm exactly when Ms Woods may have taken the cocaine, though added her behaviour as reported by Mr Goodwin at the time of his 999 call in the early hours of 30 July, alongside her high body temperature recorded by paramedics upon their arrival, was "consistent" with more recent use.

Dr Morley said Mr Goodwin had reported Ms Wood "being violent and aggressive" towards him before collapsing, though it was noted Mr Goodwin was the only witness to this.

Dr Morley added Mr Goodwin, who was observed by paramedics as having extremely dilated pupils and sweating profusely upon their arrival, was also "displaying evidence of cocaine toxicity".

During a cross-examination by prosecutor Adam Vaitilingam KC, Dr Morley was asked if the high levels of BZE in Mr Goodwin's blood - indicative of a large consumption of cocaine - could also have made the defendant act aggressively.

"It is a possibility, I wasn't there at the time," Dr Morley said, asking the jury to instead look to evidence presented by paramedics and police officers on the scene as to the nature of Mr Goodwin's behaviour on the night in question.

The trial continues.

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