Army veteran brutally killed by 10 hammer blows to the head before his body was burnt

An army veteran who was allegedly murdered was found burnt and dragged into a shallow grave having suffered at least 10 hammer blows to the head, a court has been told.

Paul Taylor, 56, had travelled to meet Jack Crawley, 20, after meeting on gay dating app Grindr – and though Crawley has admitted to the manslaughter and unlawful killing of the 56-year-old, he has denied his murder.

Taylor’s remains were found in a shallow grave in Cumbria seven months after he was last seen alive by his wife Maria at their home in Annan, Dumfriesshire.

And yesterday at Carlisle Crown Court, forensic expert Linda Ainscough said the “10 blows” figure was a “conservative estimate”.

She told the court how, in her opinion, bones in Taylor’s arm had been separated before being burnt.

Ainscough said: “There was evidence of blunt force traumatic injuries, forceful impacts, to the head, causing extensive fragmentation of bones in the cranium and lower part of the jaw.”

The court heard how there were other areas of impact, with the forensic expert adding: “It is quite likely to be 10-plus.”

Crawley had led detectives to Taylor’s body, hidden in a shallow hollow in Finglandrigg Wood, west of Carlisle, on May 1.

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A pair of large tree branches had been placed over the army veteran’s body, with two saplings also bent over by – apparently to further conceal the hollow and to impede access to it.

Natural England reserve manager Susan Woodland reported finding a “burn site” with charred clothing a few metres from the hollow while on a visit with primary school children.

Ainscough added: “In my opinion, the body of Paul Taylor was burned in the area of burning at Finglandrigg Wood.”

The jury was also read answers given in police interviews by Marcus Goodfellow, 20, from Carlisle, who denies assisting Crawley by helping him to get rid of Taylor’s car.

He told police how he “did not know who Paul Taylor was” and had “nothing to do” with his disappearance, the court heard.

The trial continues.