Health Minister, Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete who is the seventh prosecution witness in the murder trial of two former police officers, Kelepi Kolinisau and Selema Tikoenaburevere has told the Suva High Court that kick, punch or high-velocity injury through a road traffic accident can cause rupture to the small intestine in a human body.
It is alleged 26-year-old Josua Lalauvaki was murdered by Kelepi Kolinisau and Selema Tikoenaburevere while they were on duty on 2nd September last year.
During examination in chief by DPP lawyer, Meli Vosawale, Dr. Waqainabete who conducted the surgery of Josua Lalauvaki in September last year told the court that direct force through a punch or kick can cause rupture to the duodenum.
He also agreed with Vosawale that stomping can cause rupture to the duodenum.
Dr. Waqainabete told the court that they noted rupture of Lalauvaki's duodenum and swelling in the area of pancreas however there was no tear of the pancreas.
Dr. Waqainabete says it is not unusual for that area of the body to lose its blood supply and die and they believed this was one of the reasons Lalauvaki never fully recovered as the pancreatic juice may have leaked into the abdominal cavity.
Dr. Waqainabete was also asked by Vosawale as to how Lalauvaki's kidney had collapsed.
Dr. Waqainabete says in Lalauvaki's case, there were 2.4 liters of leakage of fluid which would have been pancreatic juice, bile from the liver, saliva from mouth and stomach contents.
He says the functions of the heart, liver, kidney, and blood during this situation increases and because of this, the kidney goes into shock. During cross-examination by defense lawyer, Barbara Malimali, Dr. Waqainabete revealed that it was discovered in the second week after the surgery that Lalauvaki's pancreas was also damaged.
He said the damage to the pancreas was not apparent initially after the CT scan but CT scan conducted later with other findings confirmed pancreas injury.
Dr. Waqainabete also told the court that the principles of surgery are not to touch organs that look healthy in CT scans and during visual inspection.
Prosecution will now call the pathologist who is the 8th prosecution witness.
Lalauvaki died at the CWM Hospital on 11th October last year as a result of injuries sustained after the alleged assault.
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