Joanna Yeates murder trial: Pictures of Jo's snow covered corpse shown to jury Forensic officers used a broom handle to help recover her frozen body from a country lane on Christmas Day, the court heard.
The body was found by dog walker Daniel Birch, who told officers he realised his grim discovery after spotting a pocket on her jeans.
Mr Birch and his wife Rebecca had been walking their chocolate labrador Roxy shortly before 9am after opening their presents early.
They discovered a "lump" at the side of Longwood Lane, Failand, Somerset, after parking their Mini One car nearby, Bristol Crown Court heard.
In a police statement read out to the jury, Mr Birch said: "After walking for about 100 metres I saw a lump in the snow and what appeared to be a denim jeans pocket on the left-hand verge.
"I didn't think about it straightaway and continued walking.
"After about 10 paces, my mind was saying 'that's a body' to me."
Miss Yeates's next-door neighbour Vincent Tabak admits manslaughter but denies murder.
A court artist sketch of the courtroom of Vincent Tabak (left) , who is appearing at Bristol Crown Court charged with the murder of Joanna Yeates (Pic: PA)
A court artist sketch of the Vincent Tabak in the courtroom
Mr Birch handed Roxy's lead to his wife before turning round to inspect the body.
"I said to Rebecca 'That was a body'," Mr Birch said.
Miss Yeates was lying adjacent to the road with her knees pointing towards a quarry wall.
In his statement, Mr Birch remembered the top of Miss Yeates's white knickers and part of her bare back being exposed through the snow.
Martin Faithfull, a forensic officer who reached the scene after police arrived shortly after 9am, told how he tried to prevent Miss Yeates's body thawing out.
Footage of Joanna Yeates beginning her journey home
Officers avoided putting a tent over her body amid fears that evidence could be compromised, the jury heard.
Tabak's QC, William Clegg, questioned why photographs were not taken of a broom being used to arrange straps underneath the body so her body could be taken away.
"I can't comment on why that was the case," Mr Faithfull said.
"The straps that we used are hooked around the broom so it would have to be the straps that come into contact with the body."
Vincent Tabak (Pic: PA)
Vincent Tabak
Miss Yeates suffered 43 injuries after being strangled by Tabak at her Clifton flat on December 17, the court has heard.
Tabak was seen to remove his glasses and appear to rub his eyes as police pictures of the body were shown to the jury.
Three images were shown of the police process to remove her body using two straps.
There was also a picture of the imprint her corpse had left in a pile of leaves.
Mr Justice Field told jurors they would later be shown pictures of her face and body.
A Dutch interpreter was brought into the dock to make sure the defendant understood medical terms as pathologist Russell Delaney took the stand.
Bespectacled Tabak covered his face with his hands as pictures of Miss Yeates's body "in a foetal-type position" were displayed.
A close-up image of her face with blood-stained short blonde hair was shown on screens.
Her eyes were closed and one of her earring studs was in place.
Red bruise marks were shown on her neck and chin. There was also blood underneath her nose, Dr Delaney told the jury.
"These were not described in as much detail at the time because of the condition of her body," he said.
The images taken after she was removed in a body bag to Flax Bourton mortuary showed her lying on her right side with her jeans still intact but her pink top pulled up over her head, exposing her navel and her grey bra.
Her right arm was bent around her head while her left was resting straight across her body.
A picture of her right foot with the sock removed was also shown.
She had been wearing a chunky white watch with a silver necklace and pendant.
Dr Delaney performed the first examination at 6pm on the day her body was found.
Appearing in the witness box, Dr Delaney said: "We did not know at that stage what condition the body was in."
Purple bruising above Miss Yeates's right eye and a graze on her cheek were found by Dr Delaney.
Injuries on her nose and lip were also suffered while Miss Yeates was still alive, the court heard.
Dr Delaney said: "Bruising only occurs when the heart is beating - so the injuries occurred during life."
Haemorrhages were noted by Dr Delaney on her eyelids and face.
"The particular haemorrhages in the skin, face and eyelids are signs there has been venous obstruction in the head and neck," Dr Delaney said.
Post-mortem examinations continued on Boxing Day.
There were apparent blood stains on her flower patterned pink top but no signs of injuries to her genitalia, Dr Delaney said.
Mirror
