Prof. John Obafunwa, the Lagos State Chief Forensic Pathologist told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere yesterday, that the murdered former governorship candidate of the state, Mr. Funsho Williams had died by strangling.
Presently, six suspects – Bulama Kolo, Musa Maina, David Cassidy, Tunani Sonani, Mustapha Kayode and Okponwasa Imariabie – are standing trial in the court for the murder of Williams. Obafunwa, who testified as a witness for the prosecution, stood before Justice Adeniyi Adebajo and said the post moterm carried out on the deceased person’s body showed that he died as a result of asphyxia (lack of oxygen intake) due to “manual strangulation.”
He added, “Based on our findings, the deceased’s death resulted from asphyxia or lack of air intake due to manual strangulation, and the wounds found on the deceased can be described as defence wounds. “Blood and urine samples, eye fluids, stomach contents, nail scrapings and clippings were also taken by the police for further forensic analysis after which I made a report.”
The pathologist, led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mrs. O.A Akin- Adesomoju, further stated that an X-ray photograph also revealed a fracture of the thyroid cartilage (neck bone) of the body. There were also bruises and defence wounds noticed on parts of the late politician’s body. He continued that he visited the crime scene at the deceased person’s home at 34A, Corporation Drive, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi at 5.30pm on July 27, 2006, following a call informing him of the deceased’s death.
Obafunwa told the court that he waited for policemen to arrive and could only see the corpse five hours later at 10pm. He said, “I saw the body of a middle aged man, identified by the family, having his hands tied and lying face down in a pool of blood on a dagger wrapped with a newspaper. “I covered the hands and taped it with a paper to prevent a foreign DNA which may occur during the movement of the body so as not to affect forensic investigations.
“I noticed that the room was scattered along with two other rooms which I checked before the body was moved to Creek Military Hospital and I left at midnight. “During the post-mortem examination, myself and two other pathologists at Creek Hospital discovered a cut on the deceased forehead and bruises around his neck.”
Counsel for the defendants, Mr. Agbara Okezie, declined to cross-examine the pathologist. The case was adjourned till May 7 by Justice Adebajo
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