A woman who was battered to death may have been attacked with a broken table leg, a jury heard.

Charmaine Dempsey, 48, was found dead by her daughter at her flat in Ivory Walk, Bewbush, Crawley, on December 29 last year.

Detectives believe Ms Dempsey, an alcoholic, was killed a month earlier after falling out with friends.

Alex Gallacher, 33, and Stephen Johnstone, 26, both of Neptune Close, Crawley, have denied murder at Lewes Crown Court.

Tracey Gazzard, 29, Gallacher's girlfriend at the time and also living at Neptune Close, has admitted a charge of manslaughter on the grounds she assaulted Ms Dempsey but did not intend to kill her.

On the ninth day of the trial, Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl told the jury he believed Ms Dempsey would have died within minutes of the attack.

She suffered multiple fractures to her ribs on both sides of her body, a fractured cheekbone and nose and extensive bruising to her body and skull.

She also had fractures to both sides of her jaw, which may have been caused by kicking her hard on the chin.

There were a number of bruises on her body which left a mark that matched the end of a broken table leg in her flat.

Dr Fegan-Earl said the injuries could not have been caused accidentally.

He said: "There are too many in number and they are too severe in nature. The injuries occurred as a result of an assault."

The trial continues.