Kota Kinabalu: The murder trial of a contractor and his former reality TV cooking show finalist wife heard that the maid died of Nectodtising fasciitis due to wound infection, Dr Jessie Hiu, a forensic medicine specialist, told High Court Judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng on Tuesday.
Dr Hiu, 57, was testifying as the prosecution’s witness in the trial of Mohammad Ambree Yunos @ Unos and Etiqah Siti Noorashikeen Mohd Sulong.
The couple were jointly accused of murdering one Nur Afiyah Daeng Damin, 28, between Dec 1 and 13, 2021, at a unit in Amber Tower, Lido Avenue Condominium, Penampang.
On Nov 17, 2022, Ambree, 40, and Etiqah, 33, claimed trial to the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code.
SPONSORED CONTENT Hajiji says positive economic achievements prove Sabah govt’s commitment Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, emphasised that the positive economic achievements over the past three years underscore the Sabah government’s steadfast commitment to both the administration and development of the state. Read more The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or not less than 30 years jail and not more than 40 years jail, and with no less than 12 strokes of whipping, on conviction.
Testifying further, Dr Hiu said she conducted a post-mortem examination on the deceased identified to her as Nur Afiyah Daeng Damin, a 28-year-old Bugis female at the Forensic Medicine Department, Queen of Elizabeth and that the deceased was identified by her husband.
The examination showed a decomposing body of an adult female, said Dr Hiu, adding that most of the skin cuticle on her face, neck, front and back of body, upper limbs and front of thighs had sloughed off due to decomposition.
“She was only clad in long pants and panty…Her head hair was black and short with missing patches of hair. Her eyebrows were absent, said Dr Hiu.
“The deceased sustained multiple injuries on her head, face, body and limbs. Her right eye was swollen and bruised. Her nasal bone was fractured. Her shins and ankles were swollen with areas of reddish discolouration of the skin.
“Her lower lip was bruised and swollen with multiple lacerations on the inner aspect of her lips, upper gum and frenulum.
There were patchy irregular areas of loss of skin layer forming geographic pattern at the shoulders, shoulder joint areas, arms, chest and abdomen.
The skin loss was likely due to scald. The usual appearance of scald injury was altered in this case due to the state of decomposition.
“Internal examination showed underlying tissue infection causing collection of purulent fluid and necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue, fascia and other soft tissues of the shoulder joints, the upper part of the arms and left scapula area.
“Wound infection (including necrotising fasciitis) and septicemia (blood infection) are common complications of extensive scald and other type of burns. These complications can be fatal if untreated,” she stated.
“The examination of the lower limbs revealed necrotising fasciitis (infection and necrosis of the soft tissues due to injury) underlying wound on the right thigh, right knee, left thigh and left ankle.
“There was abscess underlying the wound at the left thigh. This soft tissue infection can cause septicemia (blood infection) or toxic shock syndrome (life-threatening condition caused by bacteria getting into the body and releasing harmful toxins) leading to death,” said Dr Hiu.
She further said that based on the post mortem examination, she concluded the cause of death as Necrotising fasciitis due to infected wounds.
Referring to the post mortem report prepared by her, Dr Hiu said that there were 33 injuries on the deceased’s body – six puncture wounds, that is, at the frontal region of the head, wounds at left frontal region of the head, rectangular-shaped at left frontal region of the head, at the nasal bridge, at the right lateral aspect of the face and at the left ankle.
To a question on what type of object might cause a puncture wound, Dr Hiu replied: An object with slightly sharp tip, small in calibre and has blunt component as well.
To a question on whether a scissor, which was seized during investigation could cause puncture wound for injury at the left ankle, Dr Hiu said yes possible.
Dr Hiu, to a question by the prosecution, said necrosis is a tissue damage with cell death and agreed with the prosecution that necrosis could become necrotising fasciitis if the tissue was infected.
To another question on necrotising fasciitis in a layman terms, the witness said Necrotising fasciitis refers to infection of the tissue under the skin causing death of the issue.
“In this particular case, the cause of this was due to the injuries sustained,” she said.
On a question on whether the injury at the left ankle could be fatal and cause death, Dr Hiu replied: In combination with the other injuries that she mentioned before.
Testifying further, Dr Hiu said that there were eight incised wounds on the deceased body, adding that incised wound is a cut by object with sharp cutting edge.
She testified that a knife or scissors might cause an incised wound.
The witness further testified that there were 10 laceration wounds due to blunt object or hard blunt surface and said that a pair of scissors is possible to cause laceration wound.
When asked for her opinion on what was the estimated date of death of the deceased, Dr Hiu said based on the appearance of the body, the estimated time of death was between two to three days before the body was found.
The prosecution earlier before posting the question, stated that the witness conducted the post mortem at 11am on Dec 16, 2021, the arrival of the deceased at the hospital was at 12.20am on Dec 14, 2021, and that based on the evidence in the present case, the deceased was found dead at the crime scene at night on Dec 13, the same year.
When asked by the prosecution whether the injuries visible on the victim’s body in a video retrieved from a seized cellphone warranted treatment at a clinic or hospital, Dr. Hiu confirmed, ‘Yes’.
The victim was seen still alive in the video which was played in the open court.
State Prosecution Director Nahra Dollah, Deputy Public Prosecutors Azreen Yas Mohamad Ramli Dacia Jane Romanus appeared for the prosecution.
Ambree and Etiqah were represented by counsel Datuk Ram Singh and Datuk Seri Rakhbir Singh respectively.
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