Fingernails and toenails were detached from body of Kevin Morais
KUALA LUMPUR: The body of Senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Kevin Morais was found without fingernails or toenails, the High Court was told today.
During cross examination by defence counsel Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, Hospital Kuala Lumpur forensic expert Dr Nurliza Abdullah, 51, said she did not see fingernails or toenails on the deceased's body during the post mortem procedure.
"Not on his body, or in the gunny sack he was found in... I did not see them," she said, adding that the gunny sack was then handed over to the police after the body was removed.
Testifying before Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah, she also told the court that she did not see any toe nails while removing the high black socks from the deceased's feet.
When questioned if the nails could have disintegrated over time, Dr Nurliza replied: "Possible, but it takes time... And it depends on various factors, including external and environmental.
When Geethan asked if the finger and toenails could have disintegrated within a month or a year, she repeated again that "it is based on the rate of decay, as well as the external and environmental factors".
Dr Nurliza also told the court that Morais' body was considered in "moderate decomposition" stage when it was brought in for post mortem.
She also told the court that there was discolouration on the deceased face, as well as certain spots on the neck and chest when the post mortem was carried out on the body.
While touching on the cause of death being "probable asphyxiation", Dr Nurliza also discounted the fact that the cause of the deceased's suffocation was "suicide suffocation due to plastic bag".
She added that suicide by such a method was very rare.
Dr Nurliza was testifying at the trial of six men charged with the murder of Morais between 7am and 8pm on Sept 4, last year, between Jalan Dutamas Raya Sentul and No. 1 Jalan USJ1/6D, Subang Jaya.
On Jan 27, G. Gunasekaran, 48; R. Dinishwaran, 24; A. K. Thinesh Kumar, 23; M. Vishwanath, 26; Nimalan, 23; and Ravi Chandaran, 35, claimed trial to the charges.
Army pathologist Colonel Dr R. Kunaseegaran, 53, pleaded not guilty to abetting the six in the murder.
The trial continues tomorrow.