“Dr Death” drops bombshells at Teoh inquest

Thailand’s most senior forensic pathologist, the reknown Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, has dropped some bombshells at the Teoh Beng Hock inquest this morning.

Dr Pornthip is the Director of the Forensic Science Institute, Ministry of Justice, in Bangkok - Photo credit: thaitsunamihelp.org

This is the latest via Twitter from Malaysian Insider:

• Court allows Dr Pornthip to examine Teoh’s shoes to confirm her hypothesis that he was dragged before falling to death.
• Coroner’s court breaks for lunch and will resume at 2pm.
• DPP Kevin Morais, acting for the MACC, asks Dr Pornthip to clarify definition of strangulation.
• Dr Pornthip says Teoh’s death is 80pct homicide and 20pct suicide.
• Dr Pornthip confirms that Teoh was alive when he hit the ground but may have been unconscious even before falling.
• Dr Pornthip says skull fracture not typical of injury from fall but more compatible from blunt force applied directly to the skull.
• Dr Pornthip notes round marks on Teoh’s neck could mean ‘manual strangulation’ with fingers.
• Dr Pornthip says injury to Teoh’s anus caused by penetration with object before fall, based on pictures taken from death site.
• Dr Pornthip gives a graphic power point display based on a post-mortem pictures to show & explain Teoh’s injuries.
• Dr Pornthip tells court not all injuries on Teoh’s body consistent with fall from a height.
• Dr Pornthip explains her views are based on Teoh’s autopsy report.
• Questioned by Malik, Dr Pornthip says Teoh died from a fall about 6am to 8am on July 16, 2009.
• Dr Pornthip tells court she has conducted more than 10,000 autopsies, of which about 100 dealt with fatal falls from a high place.
• Court resumes with Dr Pornthip taking oath at witness box.
• Teoh Beng Hock’s parents, elder brother & younger sister in court to hear Dr Pornthip’s testimony.
• Court stands down until 10.15am to set up equipment for Dr Pornthip’s evidence, expected to last an hour.
• Selangor lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar introduces Dr Pornthip as expert witness for the inquest.
• AG’s lawyer Tan Hock Chuan introduces UKM forensic chief Prof Shahrom Abd Wahid to sit in for back-up explanation.
• Court sets up projector system in front of witness box for evidence from Dr Pornthip.
• The Selangor government has engaged Dr Pornthip to testify as expert witness.
• Famous Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand to testify today. She worked on Asian Tsunami victims & David Carradine’s death.
• Coroner’s court resumes hearing on Teoh Beng Hock’s death today.