A chicken wrapper found in the home of a murdered woman has been used by police to try to find out when she died.

Charmaine Dempsey, 48, was found battered to death at her flat in Ivory Walk, Bewbush, Crawley, on December 29 last year.

Detectives believe she suffered the fatal injuries a month earlier.

Alex Gallacher, 33, and Stephen Johnstone, 26, both of Neptune Close, Crawley, have denied murder.

On the fourth day of a trial at Lewes Crown Court the jury heard a ready-cooked chicken wrapper was found in the kitchen of the dead woman.

Lee Whittington, manager of the Somerfield supermarket, in Bewbush, told the court the chicken had been bought at the store between November 27 and December 3.

The court has heard Tracey Gazzard, 29, also of Neptune Close, who was Gallacher's girlfriend at the time, has admitted manslaughter on the grounds she assaulted the woman who died but did not intend to kill her.

The prosecution has alleged all four were heavy drinkers who knew each other.

It is alleged Ms Dempsey was killed following a drunken fight after the others blamed her when Gazzard's children were taken into care by social services in September after Ms Dempsey allegedly hit one of the children.

Ms Dempsey, who was found dead by her 24-year-old daughter Emma and a friend, suffered multiple injuries including a broken nose, a double fracture to her jaw, fractured cheekbone, multiple rib fractures and bruising to her head and body.

The trial continues.