Direct Examination - Dr. K.C. Vasquez

Direct Examination - Dr. K.C. Vasquez

Good afternoon Dr. Vasquez.

Could you please introduce yourself to the court?

2. I have been a medical examiner for 20 years

3. What is your educational background?

4. Bachelor’s degree in biology from Boston University, medical school at University of Washington, completed forensic pathology residency at the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner, fellowship at the University of Michigan

3. What is your experience in this field?

4. I am Certified by American Board of Pathology, testified for the county in many criminal cases - especially those that rely on complicated forensic evidence

1. How did you get acquainted with the case?

Conducted an autopsy on Kieran sunshine

What did this autopsy show?

1. That Kieran died from a stab wound to his upper-right abdomen - I ruled that the manner of death was homicide

1. What was the medical cause of death?

1. Uncontrolled hemorrhaging; the stab wound penetrated his liver, and the weapon was removed from the wound quickly

When would you estimate he died?

1. Given the degree of rigor mortis and the pattern of livor mortis on the body, Kieran died sometime between the hours of 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM on the night of July 16.

1. Where was his wound located?

1. The upper right hand side of his abdomen and was approximately an inch and a half wide and six inches deep

1. Based on your observations, how would you describe the weapon used?

1. Through microscopic analysis of the edges of the lacerations,likely sharp on one side, smooth on the other, with a semi-pointed tip; weapon was curved at the point of the blade

1. In your professional opinion, could the champagne saber have been the weapon used?

1. In my opinion, the champagne saber found at the scene is consistent with the type of weapon that caused Kieran’s fatal injury.

1. Dr. Turner asserts that Tobie could not have used the saber to stab Kieran based on a previous shoulder injury - do you agree?

1. No. I examined Tobie’s shoulder X-ray and although there was scar tissue present, the saber itself was not heavy enough to prevent Tobie from lifting it in a way that would cause deadly harm to the victim

1. Did you analyze any other evidence from the scene?

Yes, I was provided with several fibers from Kieran’s body on the sleeves of his jacket.

1. What did these fibers reveal?

1. Tests revealed the fibers to be silk. I tested these fibers against a French scarf recovered from Tobie’s home.

1. What did you conclude from these tests?

1. In my professional opinion, there was no discernible material difference between the fibers recovered from Kieran’s body and the fibers taken from Tobie’s scarf; they are consistent with being the same color and material.

1. Were you provided with anything else?

1. A smudged and bloody shoeprint was left near the body. I found that the tread pattern from the shoe is from the brand Magnates. It looks like the footprint belongs to a person who wears between 41-42 in European shoe size. However, it was a partial footprint, and I can’t be completely sure.

Thank you Dr. Vasquez, that will be all.