Angela Wrightson was 'waving her arms' to try and protect herself during attack, court told

Ms Wrightson's body was found by her landlord at her Hartlepool home in December 2014.

The 39-year-old had suffered more than 100 different injuries in a "violent and prolonged" attack in which she was beaten with a television, shovel and a printer, among other items, a jury has heard.

Two girls, then aged 13 and 14 at the time of the attack, are being tried for murder at Leeds Crown Court.

The pair, who cannot be named for legal reasons, both deny murder. Into the second week of giving evidence, the older defendant, now aged 15, has been questioned by prosecutor Nicholas Campbell QC.

The court heard how the two girls had met up on Monday, December 8, before going to Ms Wrightson's home, where she then went out to buy them cider to drink.

The older girl told the court that she noticed bruises under the victim's eyes on seeing her for the first time that day when they first visited her home at about 8pm.

The girl then admitted that she and the younger girl began assaulting her at short time later after the three had been drinking together.

Mr Campbell asked the girl: "Was she (Ms Wrightson) trying to escape?" to which the girl replied: "No."

"Was she saying anything to ask you to stop?" he then asked, to which the defendant said: "I can't remember."

Mr Campbell then asked: "What she doing anything to protect herself from you and (younger girl)?" "Yeah. She was waving her arms about and that."

When questioned as to why the girl thought the victim was waving her arms about, she told the hearing: "Because we were kicking her in her head."

When asked about how pebbles were left strewn over Ms Wrightson's body and in particular her private parts, the girl said she "didn't know".

After leaving Ms Wrightson's house after 11pm and going to see a boy the girls knew, they returned at about 2am, with the older girl saying the victim had "more blood" on her face than when her and her and friend left and she was now bleeding from the top of her head.

"Did you think she needed help?" asked Mr Campbell. "Well no not really," said the older girl. "I asked (younger girl) and if it was that serious she would have rang (for an ambulance) as well." Mr Campbell added: "You had suggested earlier that (younger girl) should ring for an ambulance but she didn't."

The older girl replied: "(Younger girl) was saying that she (Ms Wrightson) is having flashbacks and that's what you do when you are dying." The girls were then taken to their respective homes by police officers in a police van.

When asked by Mr Campbell why she didn't tell the officers that Ms Wrightson was in need of medical attention at that time, she said: "I thought it at the beginning but not all while I was by myself. Both girls admit being present at the time Ms Wrightson was killed.

The older girl has admitted attacking her but the younger defendant says she played no part in the assault. The trial continues.