The pathologist who conducted the autopsy on the man who was killed on the morning of 25 November 2015, at Eight-Mile in Port Moresby, today gave evidence in court.
The trial against Erave man Jerry Turi resumed this morning with the state calling the witness, Dr Seth Fose. He is one the chief pathologists in the country.
Dr Fose conducted the autopsy on the deceased, Tapi Max Mekeo, on 22 December 2015 at the Funeral Home. Mekeo died on 17 December 2015.
He gave an outline of the report in court and explained the extent of damage on the deceased, which caused his death.
The wife of the deceased and another woman, who was also present during the incident that morning of 25 November 2015, have already given their evidence on the stand.
The trial continues.
Turi of Southern Highlands Province is standing trial over allegations he murdered Mekeo using a metal stool, over suspicions the deceased put a curse on his son.
They had been drinking with others from the early hours of that day when a fight broke out between them.
It is the state’s allegation that Turi’s son asked his father for bus fare that morning on his way to school. When he indicated he had no money, Mekeo gave him K3 for bus fare, later encouraging him to work hard in school.
The suspicious father then accused Mekeo for curing his son, and smashed a beer bottle on his head.
He allegedly did so, saying he previously lost two children, which was done by the child’s mother’s people.
State further alleged Turi hit the deceased on the head with an iron rod, resulting in blood spattering on impact from the rod.
The trial judge, in reading the allegations against him, said Turi later licked off the blood that spattered from the deceased on his hand.
He was rushed to the Port Moresby General Hospital and was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit till his passing on 17 December 2015.