A MAN whose mutilated body was found dumped in a shallow grave had suffered a broken back and 15 fractured ribs during a fatal assault, a jury has heard.

Tomasz Dembler’s body was covered in cuts and bruises consistent with being repeatedly kicked or punched, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 39-year-old endured a brutal beating in a North East house before having his hands cut off following his death in the early hours of March 21 last year.

Home Office pathologist Dr Louise Mulcahy took jurors through the catalogue of injuries the father-of-one suffered prior to his death.

The Northern Echo: Tomasz DemblerTomasz Dembler

The forensic pathologist visited the site where Mr Dembler’s remains were disposed of in a shallow grave in woodland, near to Flatts Lane Country Park.

Jurors heard how some of the injuries were so significant that they could have been caused by a fall from height or a road traffic collision.

Dr Mulcahy outlined the 30 injuries she discovered on the outside of the alleged murder victim's body before telling jurors of the internal injuries he suffered, including a fractured spine and bleeding to the brain.

Peter Makepeace QC, prosecuting, took the pathologist through her evidence at Teesside Crown Court.

Jurors heard how the medical evidence showed Mr Dembler’s body had been left face down for up to 24 hours before his remains were transferred to the shallow grave where two teenage girls made the grim discovery three weeks later.

The Northern Echo: The woodland where Tomasz Dembler's body was buried in a shallow graveThe woodland where Tomasz Dembler's body was buried in a shallow grave

After listening to her detailing the numerous injuries, Mr Makepeace asked her to give her findings on the likely cause of death.

Dr Mulcahy concluded: "There is no definitive or unifying cause for Mr Dembler’s death. There are features of a combination of neck compression and blunt force chest and head injuries together with the dismemberment of hands after death. It is most likely that death has occurred due to a combination of these traumatic injuries."

Zbigniew Pawlowski, 41, of Leven Street, Newport, Middlesbrough; Rafal Chmielewski, 37, of Birchington Avenue, Grangetown; Tomasz Reczycki, 37, of Ashfield Avenue, Grove Hill, Middlesbrough; Monika Solerska, 37, of Birchington Avenue, Grangetown; and Adam Czerwinski, 45, of Edward Street, North Ormesby, all deny murder.

Earlier in the trial, jurors heard how mobile phone data and vehicle movements were used to connect the five defendants to the alleged murder scene at Edward street, North Ormesby, and the burial site.

The Northern Echo: The house were Tomasz Dembler was killed on Edward Street, North OrmesbyThe house were Tomasz Dembler was killed on Edward Street, North Ormesby

Friends of the Polish national, who had lived in the UK for 20 years, raised concerns about his safety just days before his body was discovered on April 12 last year.

The trial continues.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054