Consider the dna. We all wonder what substance(s) provided the dna, but of all the suggestions made, no one has ever seriously thought it was the intruder's tears.

One look at the deeply embedded ligature and the word 'mercy' is simply out of place.

I do not know if it was 'one mighty yank' of the paintbrush handle but I would tend to doubt that it was. I would think instead that it was repeated relaxation and tightening of the cord over a prolonged period of time. You don't do that and then deliver some sort of 'coup d'grace'.

>it would seem to me that at least for SOME part of the
>strangulation activity, she was conscious.
Probably for most of it. I think she bled so little mainly because there was very little blood left in the brain.

>WHEN and WHY was the head blow executed?
At the very end and solely to make doubly sure.
Sort of like plunging the knife AND twisting it!