Becky Watts's body 'was cut into eight parts and put in Asda carrier bags'

The teenager's torso was wrapped in two bathroom mats, a shower curtain and a Wasky Warehouse 'It's My Birthday' bag

Becky Watts was killed in February (pixel8000)

Teenager Becky Watts fought for life in a “vigorous struggle” in which she suffered more than 40 injuries, a court heard.

The 16-year-old was allegedly murdered in her bedroom in Crown Hill, Bristol, by her stepbrother Nathan Matthews, 28, and his girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 21.

Prosecutors allege the pair shared a sexual interest in teenage girls and attempted to kidnap Becky on February 19 this year.

Pathologist Dr Deborah Cook told Bristol Crown Court that Becky died from suffocation before her body was dismembered into eight parts.

Her remains were found in a garden shed near Matthews and Hoare's home on March 2.

The pathologist said injuries to Becky's face were consistent with her being suffocated and in fighting off the attack she suffered more than 40 bruises to her body.

“I can't say how many people were involved in this incident,” she said.

“The bruises are a pattern in totality compatible with a vigorous struggle. In my opinion, a struggle happened when someone had their hand over Rebecca's mouth and nose.

”An otherwise healthy individual cannot be suffocated with ease and they will struggle when their mouth and nose are obstructed.“

Becky's father Darren Galsworthy sat in the public gallery, supported by Becky's uncle, Sam Galsworthy, and aunt Sarah Broom.

Members of the family wept and held tissues over their mouths as Dr Cook gave her evidence to the court.

Dr Cook found 19 knife wounds on Becky's body inflicted after her death - 15 stab wounds and a slash to the torso, a long cut down her chest and wounds to her shoulders.

Nathan Matthews is seen buying a circular power saw at B&Q

Weapons used to dismember her included a circular saw, a kitchen knife and a cross-headed screwdriver, the pathologist said.

The eight body parts were individually wrapped in cling film, thick blue plastic bags, Asda shopping bags and three types of tape.

Her torso was wrapped in two bathroom mats, a shower curtain and a Wacky Warehouse 'It's My Birthday' bag.

Dr Cook added: ”Wrapping the body up so tightly in multiple layers of plastic and cling film had the effect of preserving the body.“

Some of the remains had been packed with table salt, which is used in some cultures as part of the mummification process.

Matthews claims he went to Becky's bedroom to kidnap her and ”teach her a lesson“ and knocked on the door with a mask over his face.

He told police that a struggle ensued and the mask slipped so he strangled the 5ft 1in teenager while Hoare was in the garden.

But Dr Cook said there were no ”positive findings“ to support strangulation as the cause of Becky's death.

Nathan Matthews and Shauna Hoare (back row) are accused of kidnapping Becky before her killing (PA)

Matthews admits putting her body in the boot of his car, driving it to his home in Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, and dismembering it in his bath.

In police interview before he confessed to the killing, the former TA soldier admitted he did not ”particularly like“ his stepsister.

”Sometimes she will be rude or whatever or demanding,“ he added.

The next day he and Hoare were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping Becky.

Matthews was playing a video game when officers arrived and initially did not acknowledge their arrival, answering ”no comment“ to questions about Becky's safety.

He later made disclosures to police about Becky and police attended a property in Barton Court where they found body parts in a shed.

Detective Sergeant John Dowding told the jury he discovered a clenched human hand wrapped in cling film in the shed at 1am on March 3.

Other packages within the shed were transported to a nearby mortuary, where Dr Cook carried out her examination.

The residents of the Barton Court property, Karl Demetrius, 30, and his partner Jaydene Parsons, 23, admit assisting an offender.

Donovan Demetrius - Karl's twin brother - of Marsh Lane, Bristol, and James Ireland, 23, of Richmond Villas, Avonmouth, a work colleague of Karl, deny the charge.

Matthews, of Hazelbury Drive, Warmley, South Gloucestershire denies murder and conspiracy to kidnap.

He admits killing Becky, perverting the course of justice, preventing burial of a corpse and possessing a prohibited weapon.

Hoare, of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, denies murder, conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice, preventing burial of a corpse and possessing a prohibited weapon.

PA