IPOH: A forensic medical expert told the High Court here today that the death of Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamrie was caused by severe injuries to the chest and abdomen from a road accident on Dec 15 last year.
The 24th prosecution witness, Dr Ain Nurfarahana Hamdan, 35, said she made this conclusion after conducting the post-mortem examination on the teenager's body at the Forensic Medicine Department, Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB), here, at 3pm on the day of the accident.
According to her, the post-mortem examination found eight of the victim's ribs were broken — four on the right back, three on the left back, and one more on the left side.
"Additionally, both lungs were bruised and there was a tear on his left lung," she said.
"The victim's liver was ruptured on the right side. The area around the right kidney and right adrenal gland was bruised. There were bruises on the scalp and left temporalis muscle.
"Under the brain membrane, there was minor localised bleeding on the left occipital area," she explained before Judge Datuk Bhupindar Singh Gucharan Singh Preet on the 11th day of the trial involving a senior police officer charged with the murder of Muhammad Zaharif Affendi.
Dr Ain Nurfarahana also said there were signs of injury on Zaharif's head, face, chest, abdomen, back, both arms and legs.
"There were bruises, abrasions, and scratches on the eyelids, lips, back, and the left little finger's proximal bone was fractured," she added.
"The abdominal cavity contained an accumulation of blood, totalling 2,000 millilitres (hemoperitoneum), and there was bruising on the mesenteric tissue.
"Based on the post-mortem examination, I concluded that the cause of death was 'Chest and abdomen injuries due to road traffic crash'," she said.
During the main examination by deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz, Dr Ain Nurfarahana confirmed that 108 photos presented to the court were images of Zaharif's injuries during the post-mortem examination process.
Referring to the death certificate, the witness confirmed that the time of death was 12.32pm on Dec 15, last year.
According to the charge, Deputy Superintendent Mohd Nazri Abdul Razak, 45, is accused of murdering Zaharif, 17, at Jalan Taman Jati 1 near Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Jati, between 11.45am and 12.32pm on Dec 15, 2023.
The senior police officer is charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment for 30 to 40 years, and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane if convicted.
In addition to Afzainizam, the prosecution team includes Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani, V. Suloshani, and Low Qin Hui, while the defendant is represented by lawyers M. Athimulan, Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, and Aiman Hakim Kamaruzzaman.