Mother-of-two killed by family from hell, court told

A MOTHER-OF-TWO allegedly killed by “the family from hell” was found dead with more than 60 injuries, a court heard yesterday.

Rachel Hudson’s body was spotted by a walker near a lake and waterfall in the grounds of Newstead Abbey, near Nottingham on March 18, 2004.

The 20-year-old had died after suffering a “brutal and barbaric” campaign of abuse at the hands of her husband and his family while kept a virtual prisoner at their home, a jury at Nottingham Crown Court has heard.

Yesterday, jurors were told about pathologist Professor Guy Rutty’s post mortem report, in which her multiple injuries were revealed.

Head and facial wounds included a split ear that had become swollen and deformed, and a split lip so badly damaged it had come away from her jaw bone.

There was skin missing from various parts of her body, including her right arm, left shoulder, right leg, back and neck, the court heard.

Among deeper injuries found on her body were 18 areas of bruising to her back and blood clots in her back and right leg.

Her main arteries and veins, including those in her lungs, had thrombosis - the main cause of death, the pathologist found.

Broken bones included ribs, a toe and finger.

Prosecuting, Tim Spencer QC said: “There was no evidence that she had received any form of medical treatment for any of the injuries that she suffered before she died, so all those many injuries went untreated. Ronald Hudson, 49, Trudi Ann Hudson, 44, Ronald Emile Hudson Jnr, 23, Craig Hudson, 21, Andrew Hudson Makings, 34, Shane Hudson, 19, Elizabeth Hogg, 19, and Charlene Hudson, 18, all deny murder. The same defendants and a ninth unnamed person have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Yesterday, the court also heard of the family’s attempts at a cover-up story in which Rachel died at the hands of Ronald Junior Hudson, whom they would claim had a mental health problem.