Dr Alastair Crawford BSC, MBBS, MRCPath, (Forensic) Crown Office Services and

DipRCP

Path Fiscal

Procurator

STATEMENT OF WITNESS
Statement of: Dr Alastair Crawford, BSC, MBBS, MRCPath, DipRCP Path (Forensic) 1958 Age of Witness: (Date of Birth)

Occupation of Witness: Forensic Pathologist Address: Glasgow City Morgue

This statement consisting of ___ pages is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have willfully stated anything which I know to be false or do not believe to be true.

Dated: Signed:

21st February 2012 Censored

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Case #10003487098

Case 10003487098
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Services

This is a confidential report to the coroner and should not be disclosed to a third party without his permission FINAL POST MORTEM REPORT SC:14/2012/jd February 2012 21st

Report Preamble
CITY NAME OF DECEASED RESIDENCE OF DECEASED AGE RACE MANNER OF DEATH CAUSE OF DEATH GLASGOW UNKNOWN UNKNOWN EARLY THIRTIES (APPROX) CAUCASIAN HOMICIDE DOB SEX ACCIDENT AL UNKNOWN FEMALE (POST-OP) SUICIDE UNDETERMIN ED COUNT Y STRATHCLYDE

NATURAL

SUFFOCATION DATE OF AUTOPSY 21st February

PLACE OF AUTOPSY:

Glasgow City Morgue

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Case #10003487098
PATHOLOGISTS: Dr Alastair Crawford, BSC, MBBS, MRCPath, DipRCP Path (Forensic)

History
At approximately 18.30 am on 15 February 2012, at the request of Strathclyde Police, I attended the scene of a suspicious death near Tarbet, Loch Lomond. I logged at the outer cordoned area at 18.32 and approached the scene by climbing down a ditch. The body was about 50 meters into the woods. There was no clearing towards it and the terraine was slippery due to the previous nights rain. At 18.37, Det Sergeant Seymour logged me at the inner cordon and gave me background information on the case, essentially that the woman was found naked and hadnt been identified yet. The body was discovered at 16.30 on 15 February by a search and rescue team looking for possible victims involved in a car accident that occurred a few miles north of the A82. Paramedics declared her life extinct at 16:25.

Scene examination
By the time I reached the scene at 18:30 hrs, a tent had already been erected over the deceased. The body was of a Caucasian woman approximately in her mid thirties (at this stage). It lay about 50 meters away from the main road, with mud covering most of her body. She was lying on her back with her head turned upwards, eyes open wide. A foreign object was visible in the oral cavity although I was unable to identify its nature at this stage. Her left arm was spread to her side, in line with her body, pointing down towards her feet. The left hand lay on her chest. Her legs were extended out, both hips touching the ground. The left leg was slightly flexed upwards. 1.1. Clothing

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Case #10003487098

The only item of clothing found on the body was a tulle underskirt, size 8. A red-haired wig had come loose off the head. The elastic bands were undone. Dirt and leaves were stuck in it.

1.2. Bloodstaining and contamination on exposed body surfaces

There was light bloodstaining at the corner of the lips. The skin was visibly torn on each side. Bloodstaining from a laceration running from the bridge nose to the lower centre forehead (approx. 2.5 by 1.5cm). Heavier bloodstaining from both nostrils. This ran in a band over her lips. The body was extensively soiled with dirt. Foliage covered most of the upper torso and genital areas down to the midtigh section. Blood spots were noted under all the fingernails. The forensic biologist retrieve samples for testing. Once the foliage covering the body was removed, extensive bruising was noted on the entire width of the midrift. Lesions were found on the elbows and knees, the latter running one fourth of the way down the shins. These were not visible upon examination on the scene as the body parts were soiled.

1.3.

Adjacent Scene

An uprooted tree trunk was found close to the body. Bloodstaining was noted on it and samples retrieved. The trunk was taken to the lab for further testing.

Lying underneath the left foot of the body were a pair of red lace underpants.

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Case #10003487098 A trail of blood spots lead from the body to the car crash site. Blood samples from both scenes were taken for comparison by the forensic biologist.

1.4.

Signs of Visible Injury

An abrasion on the forehead was noted once the foliage was cleared from the body. Other injuries became visible including abrasions to the palms, the underside of the lower arms as well as knees and shins. Heavy bloodstaining was was noted on the inner thighs and buttocks.

1.5.

Protective Clothing

While I was on the scene I used a protective suit complete with hood and gloves. I was logged out of the cordoned area at 1.30 am on 16th February.

Internal examination
On 17 February at around 20:15 hours, I conducted a post mortem examination on the deceased at the Glasgow City Mortuary, Jocelyn Square, G1 5JU. Witnesses included: Karen McDonald, Assistant Forensic Pathologist Shaunaugh Nelson, Morturary Technician

Photographs were taken by Shaunaugh Nelson under my direction. The body weighed 62.5 kg and was approximately 168cm tall. The head hair was about 30cm long and the eyes were dark. The pubic hair was evenly distributed. The fingernails were 1.02cm long. The one on the left hands middle finger was broken at 0.01cm. 4.1 Tattoos No tattoos were found on the body.

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Case #10003487098 4.2 Scars

Hypertropic scarring was noted between the inner labia and vaginal lining suggestive of gender reassignment surgery.

4.3

Clothing

Described above.

Evidence of injury
1.6. Head and Neck A blunt force injury from the centre forehead down to the bridge of the nose with a contusion of about 2.5cm by 1.5cm. The nose bridge was fractured.

The corner of the lips were lacerated. A series of multiple blunt force injuries were found around the mouth.

1.7.

Trunk

There was a criss cross contusion in the centre of the upper chest, underneath where the right hand was positioned. There were no rib fractures or hemorrhage.

The whole abdominal and lower chest area had an abrasion of about 25cm to 12.3 cm. The skin was grazed, especially in the centre area, as if by rubbing against a rough surface.

1.8. Upper Extremities

Both limbs had superficial abrasions running from the elbow to the inner (palmar) wrist. The abrasions on the right limb were slightly more pronounced. The palms of both hands were soiled.

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1.9. Lower Limbs

Over the anterior lower limbs, extending from the knees to the lower shin were abrasions similar to the ones found on the upper extremities.

There were severe wounds on the perineum, vaginal area and anus. These were circular in shape and measuring around 1.8 cm. The concentration of wounds was in the genital area where tissue was severely macerated.

1.10.

Body Cavities

Foreign materials were found in the oral cavity, specifically in the upper section of the trachea. The objects consisted of a plastic capsule measuring 5cm by 3cm. This contained a glass marble, white in colour with red, green and yellow stripes.

There were considerable injuries in the mouth. The incisors were broken and the tissue on the upper palate was perforated up to the nasal cavity. The tongue was reduced to a pulp.

The uvula, oropharynx and palatopharyngeal arch sustained multiple blunt force injuries.

A rape test was carried out.

2. Time of Death Estimation The estimated time of death is based on the rectal temperature of 15 degrees Celsius taken at 20:30. The death is likely to have occurred at 4.30 am on 15th February.

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Case #10003487098 3. Conclusions

The deceased appeared to be healthy and nourished with no evidence of natural diseases or trauma from previous surgeries. Although had scarring occurred, wounds from the gender reassignment surgery were completely healed. While a significant amount of blood was lost as a consequence of the multiple blunt force injuries sustained, this was not enough to cause death. The deep lacerations inside the body cavities suggested penetration with a foreign object. A blood stained branch found close to the victim was of a consistent shape and length as the recorded injuries. The blood underneath the nails indicates the deceased attempted to defend herself. The criss cross wounds on the chest are suggestive of restraint-like injuries and may have been inflicted by pinning the arms. This suggests there may have been more than one assailant. According to the toxicology results, the deceased consumed Benzoylmethyl Ecgonine (cocaine). The levels were not high enough to cause death. The minor abrasions on the limbs are consistent with scrapings against undergrowth. The foreign object found in the trachea blocked the airflow to the lungs. It is my opinion this resulted in the womans death.

Censored
21 February 2012
Dr Alastair Crawford, BSC, MBBS, MRCPath, DipRCP Path (Forensic)

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Case #10003487098