Pregnant teenage murder victim Rhiana Moore was stabbed 18 times and was expecting a female baby, Supreme Court heard yesterday.

Forensic pathologist Chitra Rao said the foetus, which was between 27 and 30 weeks' gestation, was intact and well-formed and "would have been a viable baby". This means capable of survival outside the womb.

The expert witness from Canada detailed 14 stab wounds all over Rhiana's torso, to the front and back and to her abdomen. Four more stab wounds were found on her head and neck.

>Dr. Rao told the jury it looked as though the wounds had been inflicted when 5ft 4ins tall Rhiana was standing or seated, but not in a lying-down position. She believes a single-edged knife was used.

Prosecutors say that defendant Ze Selassie is responsible for the premeditated murder of 14-year-old Rhiana, from Devonshire. The pair was allegedly involved in a secret relationship prior to the killing, with her mother unaware of the relationship or her pregnancy. Selassie, 33, of St. David's, denies the charge.

>Rhiana went missing on the evening of Friday May 30 last year after attending a church youth group. Her body was found the next morning in the water at Blue Hole Hill Park in Hamilton Parish.

The doctor said the fatal wound was above Rhiana's right hip. It penetrated her diaphragm and cut her liver and right kidney along with two major veins. Another significant wound was to the shoulder by the right collarbone which cut her jugular vein <\!m> a major vein leading from the head to the heart. Dr. Rao said that this alone, or in combination with another, could have resulted in death through bleeding.

Dr. Rao also described a number of "defence wounds" demonstrating someone trying to fend off an attack. She said there was no evidence that Rhiana died from drowning, and the cause of death was multiple stab wounds. She explained that there could have been a lot of external bleeding, and she believes the body was dumped in the water after Rhiana was dead.

Dr. Rao said the victim also had numerous injuries resulting from "blunt force trauma" where the body has fallen or been struck. These included a laceration inside her lower lip consistent with an "impact injury" and other injuries to her face. She said there was no indication of "prior forceful sexual intercourse".

In answer to a question from Chief Justice Richard Ground as to how long it would have taken Rhiana to die, the expert said it was a difficult question because every person reacts differently. However, she continued: "I won't say it's instantaneous and I won't say it's very rapid, but I will say maybe a couple of hours.I can't pinpoint."

She explained that the type of injuries Rhiana sustained would have led to slow rather than gushing bleeding. Asked how long the victim may have been in the water, she again estimated a couple of hours.

In answer to a question from defence lawyer John Perry QC as to whether the victim would have been capable of "normal activities" after receiving the injuries, Dr. Rao said Rhiana could have moved, walked or even run until going into shock due to blood loss.