Beng Hock was conscious when he fell, says British expert

By Debra Chong - The Malaysian Insider


SHAH ALAM, April 26 — British forensic expert Dr Peter Vanezis told the coroner’s court here today that Teoh Beng Hock was fully conscious when he fell to his death from the MACC offices here last year, and that there was no evidence to suggest he was strangled.
Dr Vanezis said that while there was no obvious sign of restraint on the body, he pointed out that a person could be restrained without leaving marks.
The British forensic specialist, who gained fame as one of the investigators into Princess Diana's death, added that he was not able to say if Teoh was subjected to intimidation before he fell to his death.
He told the court that injuries to Teoh’s hands showed he tried to break the fall. Dr Vanezis added that Teoh’s injuries were consistent with a fall from the 14th floor of a building onto a 5th floor landing.
He told the inquiry into Teoh’s death that extensive injuries were found on Teoh’s neck but there was no fracture to neck bones.
Dr Vanezis was one of two foreign experts present at Teoh’s second autopsy late last year.
The coroner’s court is investigating the cause of DAP political aide Teoh’s death after his body was found last year in suspicious circumstances on the fifth floor landing of the building housing the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) offices here.
Before his body was found Teoh was being questioned by MACC officers investigating graft allegations against his boss in the state government.