Five people accused of murdering Joanne Penney - live updates

The trial of several people accused of murdering a 40-year-old woman who was shot in the chest at close range is continuing at Cardiff Crown Court. Joanne Penney was killed when she opened the door of a property in Llys Illtyd in Talbot Green on March 9 this year. She was pronounced dead just moments later.

Marcus Huntley, 21, of Orchard Park, St Mellons, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to a charge of murder during day two of the trial on Thursday, October 23.

Jordan Mills-Smith, 33, of Bryn Celyn, Pentwyn, Cardiff, Joshua Gordon, 27, of London Road, Oadby Leicestershire, Kristina Ginova, 21, of London Road, Oadby, Leicestershire, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, of Cordelia Close, Leicester, and Tony Porter, 68, of Burdet Close, Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, all deny murder.

On Thursday, October 30, which was day six of the trial, Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Martin Jones gave evidence and told the court how he examined Miss Penney's body after her death. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here.

He said "there was a hole in the front of the heart" and "no exit wound".

He confirmed to the court that the cause of Miss Penney's death was "gunshot wound to the chest involving the heart and the left lung”.

Another to give evidence on Thursday was Andrew Huxtable, a forensic firearms investigator at South Wales Police. He said an 8mm cartridge was recovered from the scene in Talbot Green, one which was designed to be fired with a blank firing weapon. However, he adds that the cartridge appears to be loaded with an “improvised load projectile”.

You can follow our live coverage of the Joanne Penney murder trial each day the court sits.

And you can read previous days' coverage here:

Day one - Jury