A MOTHER died after “severe” force was used to plunge a knife into her neck, a court heard.

Kelly Davies, aged 31, was found stabbed at her home in Queen Street, Farnworth, in June last year.

Her young daughter was standing close to her body, clutching her doll.

Joseph Davies, aged 36, is accused of her murder on June 2.

Manchester Crown Court heard yesterday that Ms Davies died from multiple stab wounds — she had 22 wounds to her neck, including one that cut her jugular vein in two.

Pathologist Naomi Carter told the court some of the wounds were as deep as 10cm. One of them went through her voicebox which, Dr Carter said, required severe force. Ms Davies also had cuts on her hands.

Dr Carter said: “Stab wounds on the hands suggest defence injuries.”

She added the blood loss led to clinical shock due to low blood pressure.

Peter Wright, QC, prosecuting, asked, with that catalogue of injuries, what were her chances of survival.

Dr Carter replied: “I cannot say what order the injuries were inflicted, but it is likely she would have died within a few minutes of the injuries being caused.”

A table used by pathologists, which is based on a number of variables, suggests Ms Davies died between 2.30pm on Sunday, June 3, and 4.30am on Monday, June 4, the day her body was found.

Judge Andrew Gilbart, QC, addressing Dr Carter, said: “If the table is correct Joseph Davies cannot have killed Ms Davies?”

Dr Carter said “significant reservations” about the table have been raised by the a forensic science pathology group to the Home Office.

The court heard earlier that Davies could not have killed Ms Davies at the time indicated in the table as he was already out of the country. He was seen on CCTV footage getting into a taxi in Lower Market Street, Farnworth, at 11.30pm on Saturday, June 2.

A short time later he was seen on footage at Manchester Airport. Hours later Davies was captured on CCTV footage at London’s St Pancras Station going through passport control.

Earlier in the trial the court had heard Davies was arrested in Holland after he was hit by a train, which resulted in part of his leg being amputated.

The jury heard how Davies was arrested after allegedly attacking Ms Davies on February 2, 2007.

In a police statement, which she later withdrew, she said Davies grabbed her and told her to get into a bath of cold water after accusing her of sleeping with other people. She suffered a burst lip and swollen left eye.

The trial continues.