Expert forensic evidence heard in Jesse Leigh Green's NSW Supreme Court murder hearing after death of Teah Luckwell in South Tamworth, 2018

Dr Leah Clifton gave evidence in the NSW Supreme Court murder hearing of Jesse Leigh Green on Tuesday, who is accused of killing 22-year-old Ms Luckwell in her South Tamworth home in March 2018.

The court heard the cause of her death was stab wounds to the neck.

Dr Clifton said Ms Luckwell had suffered three stab wounds in total, including two to her neck and one to her upper back.

"There were no injuries that could be considered defensive in nature identified at autopsy," Dr Clifton said.

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She told the court the examination found nothing to show that Ms Luckwell was "attempting to defend herself" from the injuries that were inflicted by the knife.

Crown prosecutor Brian Costello later asked if that could be explained by someone not knowing they were about to be stabbed. Dr Clifton replied that was possible.

Mr Costello asked if someone might not have defensive injuries if they were holding something that they did not want to drop at the time.

Dr Clifton said that was also a possible scenario.

Professor Johan Duflou gave evidence with Dr Clifton, and both agreed the exact time of Ms Luckwell's death was difficult to determine.

The court heard she was last seen on the evening of March 27, 2018 and ambulance officers had described her as cold when her body was found the following night.

The hearing continues before Justice Stephen Campbell, sitting virtually in Sydney due to COVID-19.

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