Ben Anderson, a paramedic based at Castleford, arrived at the 73-year-old's bungalow in a rapid response vehicle at 3.36pm after the alarm was raised by her business partner and son-in-law David Hill, 48, on Wednesday September 27, 2006.

Mr Anderson told Leeds Crown Court yesterday (April 15) that when he entered the kitchen, he saw Mrs Wright lying in a pool of blood on the floor and two police officers performing CPR on her.

He said: "In my opinion, it was highly unlikely we were going to revive her successfully."

As "protocol", Mr Anderson accompanied the widow in an ambulance to Pontefract General Infirmary, where she was pronounced dead at 4.16pm.

Robert Smith QC, defending, showed Mr Anderson a photograph of his bloodstained uniform and asked him about the medical equipment he used that would shield him from blood while performing CPR.

The jury also heard from PC Ruth Walshaw, who was assigned as the family liaison officer for the investigation.

She arrived at the home of Mrs Wright's next-door neighbour, Eric Smith, at 4.18pm where she spoke to Hill and asked him questions that would help police with their inquiries.

When she asked him about their business, she said he told her that Mrs Wright would never withdraw money from their joint bank account.

She added: "He was quite specific about that."

The court heard PC Walshaw and PC Leanne Earley, a trainee investigator, took Hill back to his home on Lakeside Meadows, Pontefract, so his clothes could be placed into exhibit bags and he could see his two sons.

PC Earley said when they arrived at the house, she and Hill went straight upstairs to his bedroom so he could remove his bloodstained clothing.

She told the jury she held out exhibit bags, one by one, so Hill could place each item of clothing into a different bag as he took each thing off.

She said she folded over the tops of the exhibit bags, so she could seal them when at the police property store, and placed them in a pile on the bed.

She told the jury that at that stage, she did not believe Hill was a suspect.

In cross examination, Mr Smith said: "I'm going to suggest that what happened was David Hill was allowed to take off his denim jacket and put his shirt on top, and you then said to him as he was about to take off his trousers, do you want me to look away."

PC Earley replied: "No."

Mr Smith added: "And when it came to his socks, you had to ask him do you remember if this is the left sock or right one."

She said: "I honestly do not recall that."

The prosecution claims debt-ridden Hill – who was Mrs Wright's business partner at their toy and greetings card stall at Castleford indoor market – was secretly writing himself cheques from their joint bank account to keep his creditors at bay and bludgeoned Mrs Wright to death after "losing his temper".

He claims he discovered her body and denies murder.

Proceeding.

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See this week's Express for the latest news from the trial.