Kuala Lumpur Hospital Forensics Medical Consultant Dr Nurliza Abdullah, 51, said this was based on the conditions of a victim who suffered from asphyxiation.
“In such conditions, his head could have been tightly wrapped with a plastic bag, causing the victim to suffocate.
“In another condition, the victim could have been compressed on the chest, which shows signs of swelling to prevent breathing movements,” she said in a cross-examination by counsel N Sivananthan on the fifth day of hearing in the murder trial of the deputy public prosecutor.
Asked to comment on other sources of asphyxiation, Dr Nurliza said: “I am of the view that a combination of all these methods caused the victim to suffocate.”
Apart from that, she said Morais died of suffocation from an unnatural cause.
She said there were many causes of asphyxiation, but suffocation referred to unnatural causes.
“In pathological forensic understanding, the word ‘natural’ in natural condition refers to illness suffered by a person.
“Unnatural causes refer to external factors not related to sickness which cause asphyxiation.”
Replying to a question by Sivananthan on how she confirmed the death was due to unnatural causes, Dr Nurliza said she had conducted a thorough examination.
She clarified that Morais’ body was not in a fresh condition, in which all signs of asphyxiation were visible.
“I exempted the other causes of death, such as sharp force injuries, projectile-induced injuries, heat-radiated injuries as well as signs of broken bones as there was no sign of internal bleeding in the body.”
Dr Nurliza also denied Morais died from heart failure.
Six men – G. Gunasekaran, 48, R. Dinishwaran, 24, A. K. Thinesh Kumar, 23, M. Vishwanath, 26, S. Nimalan, 23, and S. Ravi Chandaran, 45, pleaded not guilty to murdering Morais between 7am and 8pm on Sept 4, 2015 between Jalan Dutamas Raya Sentul and No 1, Jalan USJ1/6D, Subang Jaya.
Col Dr R. Kunaseegaran, 53, the primary accused, pleaded not guilty to the charge of abetting the six men in the murder at the same place, date and time.
Hearing before Justice Azman Abdullah resumes tomorrow.
– BERNAMA