If it was both, a conjuction would be used not a preposition. Cause of death is asphyxiation and cranial trauma.
Because of the lack of bleeding, it cannot be shown that she was struck first before being strangled, she was struck while being strangled at or very near the point of death and possibly even after death. There is plenty of evidence of asphyxiation from the petechial hemorrhage noted in the autopsy.
Right, which is basically saying;
If it were both it would have read "cause of death is asphyxiation and associated craniocerebral trauma". The key word there is "and". This, of course, assumes that the coroner was up to all these grammatical subtleties. Given no blood she must have been strangled first. That probably rules accident out completely.
But if you're right, then it seems to me, and I'm just thinking aloud, that she was indeed kidnapped, removed from the home, probably before 10 p.m., murdered and returned to the basement of her home. This would suggest someone had a key to the house (too much ballyhoo with the basement window). The reason I say all this is because I think the later you push her death into the night the more problems you'll see with the forensics evidence regarding putrefaction and rigor.
But I still wonder about the pineapple in her system? She couldn't have been asleep by 9:30 when they got home as Patsy claimed.
Your thoughts?