Naomi Hunte and Fiona Holm trial: Pathologist gives evidence

Jurors were told 41-year-old Naomi Hunte had wounds to her face and torso including a stab wound which punctured her right lung. 

Naomi was found dead on her sofa with blood covering her flat on February 14, 2022. 

In the months before her death Naomi had made four complaints to police saying Carl Cooper was harassing her.  

Cooper, 66, of Broadfield Road in Hither Green, was later arrested on suspicion of Naomi’s murder but was released under investigation.  

It is alleged that he then went on to murder 48-year-old Fiona Holm just 16 months later. 

Fiona had also made complaints to police about Cooper prior to her death, the court heard. 

Her body has never been found. 

Cooper’s double-murder trial has now entered its second week. 

Naomi Hunte (Image: Met Police)

On Monday morning (June 10) forensic pathologist Dr Simon Poole gave evidence to the jury about Naomi’s injuries. 

He said Naomi had 12 wounds which were consistent with the use of a knife. 

The most significant of these was a 125mm deep stab wound which penetrated and caused the partial collapse of her right lung. 

She also had 105mm deep stab wound to her abdominal region. 

Dr Poole said it was his opinion that these injuries were caused prior to her death. 

A toxicology report indicated that Naomi had taken large amounts of cocaine and alcohol prior to her death, Dr Poole said. 

He gave her cause of death as a combination of the stab wounds and substance intoxication. 

READ OUR PREVIOUS COVERAGE - Woolwich woman reported ‘bully’ to police four times before she was stabbed to death

Fiona Holm (Image: Met Police)

Double murder trial 

Last week prosecutor Joel Smith KC opened the trial by telling the jury that Cooper was accused of killing two women he had been in sexual relationships with. 

He said: “Cooper is a man with a predilection to control women – particularly the two deceased women – and prone to violence when challenged. He is, in short, a callous bully and a killer." 

After Naomi’s death Cooper was arrested and interviewed, and during a search of his home they found one of his coats had Naomi’s blood on it.   

However, he was later released under investigation.  

Mr Smith said: “And then, lightning struck twice in exactly the same place because in June 2023, a little over a year since Ms Hunte was found, a woman named Fiona Holm went missing.   

“She too had been in a sexual relationship with Carl Cooper. She too had complained to the police about his violence. You will see, no doubt, a pattern emerging.   

"Because Carl Cooper killed Fiona Holm too. And he hid her body – hid it so well, in fact, that it has never been found.” 

Cooper denies both murders and the trial continues.