Philomena Dunleavy 'given Christian burial' on Corstorphine Hill A woman found in a grave on Corstorphine Hill could have been given a Christian burial after being dismembered, a court heard. On Thursday, a murder trial at the High Court in Edinburgh were shown how experts uncovered the body in a shallow grave. A time-lapse camera was set up in a woodland clearing on the Edinburgh hill to record the process, taking a photo every ten minutes. The resulting footage shows the process, including the near naked torso of a woman with her severed legs beside her and her head on top of the legs. Describing the scene, forensic archaeologist Dr Jennifer Miller told the trial the dead woman looked as though she had been given a "Christian burial." She said: "Everything was facing east. In an archaeological context that would suggest a Christian burial. It is facing the rising sun. James Dunleavy, also known as Seamus, is on trial for the murder of his 66-year-old mother Philomena. The accused is also said to have cut up her body and burying it on Corstorphine Hill. Dr Miller who has visited hundreds of similar graves during her 19 years working as a forensic archaeologist, was called in after a passing cyclist noticed teeth in the soil on June 6 last year. She also told the trial at the High Court in Edinburgh that the grave, no deeper than 46cm, would have been difficult to dig. Under a top layer of sandy soil the ground was so hard it could break a spade, she said. Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, asked what sort of effort would be required. Dr Miller replied: "Extremely difficult. It would have been extremely hard to dig. A lot of effort, yes. The archaeologist, a recognised expert of analysis of stomach contents, also told the trial the dead woman could have eaten a curry, possibly eight hours before she died. Digestion was almost complete, but back in her laboratory tiny caraway seeds were found. The stomach contents also had a spicy smell, said Dr Miller. She said she was later given a jar of caraway seeds seized by police from the Balgreen Road flat where it is thought the woman might have been murdered and they matched. She said: "I examined the seeds and concluded they were of the same type as those found in the stomach contents." The murder charge alleges Dunleavy, 40, inflicted "blunt force trauma" by means unknown, compressed his mother's throat and cut off her head and legs with a blade and something like a saw.