Murder victim Paula Conlon died of multiple stab wounds which pierced her heart and lungs and were inflicted with a "severe" degree of force, a jury has heard.
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Family members shed tears in court after post-mortem evidence revealed Ms Conlon sustained deep cuts, some which passed through her hand and forearm, the night she was killed in a horrific attack.
Aleksander Vojneski is accused of stabbing his girlfriend, 30, to death in her Macgregor home on March 27, 2012.
The mother of three had been stabbed 11 times when she was found dead on a single bed in her room.
Vojneski, 31, pleaded not guilty to Ms Conlon's murder and is on trial in the ACT Supreme Court.
The accused, who has a history of mental health problems and drug use, is alleged to have killed Ms Conlon at the north-side home after he became frustrated by failed attempts to get drugs.
He did not visibly react in court on Friday as Victorian forensic pathologist Heinrich Bouwer gave graphic evidence of Ms Conlon's fatal injuries.
Dr Bouwer, who conducted the post-mortem examination on the victim's body, said she died from blood loss and lung failure caused by multiple stab wounds.
He said it was the five stabbing injuries inflicted on her upper body, one of which pierced her aorta and severed one of her pulmonary arteries, that had proved fatal.
The murder weapon had hit bones, including a rib, her sternum and spine.
Ms Conlon's lungs were punctured and collapsed, which would have left her unable to breathe, Dr Bouwer said.
He described further stab wounds, cuts and bruises on her arms, legs, face and hands.
Dr Bouwer said she had two ''through-by-through wounds'', where the weapon had perforated her hand and forearm.
He said Ms Conlon's injuries would have been caused by a ''severe'' degree of force and were likely caused by a knife or similar implement.
Under cross-examination by defence barrister Jack Pappas, Dr Bouwer said the injuries to Ms Conlon's hands and forearm showed hallmarks of defensive wounds.
Mr Pappas suggested the size of the entry and exit wounds on one of her hands indicated Ms Conlon had been stabbed in the back of the hand, rather than the palm.
However, Dr Bouwer said he could not say that for certain as it would depend on the position of the hand and the knife.
He said people involved in such a violent conflict often moved around a lot.
Dr Bouwer agreed with Mr Pappas' suggestion that a wound on the left side of Ms Conlon's chest indicated the knife had been brought down from above and entered her body at an angle.
The trial will enter its fourth week before Justice John Burns on Monday.
