By Isaiah Lucheli
NAIROBI, KENYA: Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor has said it is possible the body of university student Mercy Keino was dumped when she was already dead.
However, Mr Oduor explained that failure by pathologists to visit the scene of the accident posed challenges in establishing the real cause of death but noted some evidence casts doubt on the accident version.
He added that part of Keino’s skull and brain matter were missing during the autopsy, which he termed not unusual in accident cases but explained he could not confidently say whether she died from a motor vehicle accident.
The doctor noted the amount of blood at the scene of the accident was too little and the deceased had not bled on the lower limbs, as is normal in 85 per cent of accidents.
“The amount of blood at the scene of the incident was too little as compared to level and intensity of the injuries sustained by the deceased,” he said.
While being cross-examined by lawyer Cliff Ombeta using pictures taken by the investigating officer, the pathologist explained the blood at the scene did not add up to the hit and run theory.
“In the event that a skull is smashed by a vehicle, the heart continues to beat and this will lead to splattering of blood at the scene. The human body has over five litres of blood,” he said.
Multiple fractures
Oduor, however, explained that the injuries sustained by the deceased had all indications of an accident as the skull had been smashed and the body had multiple fractures, but the autopsy and the pictures cast doubt to this.
The doctor added that the level of alcohol in the body of the deceased was too high and equated it to 8 bottles of beer and 18 tots of whisky.
“I cannot confidently say the deceased was killed elsewhere and her body dumped on the road, or it was a hit and run case. Many changes happen when a body is removed from the scene of the accident, that is why it is important for the pathologist to visit the scene,” he said.
