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Four throat muscles missing from Soroti murdered infant's body — witness
Dr. Rubanza, who was testifying as the seventh prosecution witness in the ongoing murder trial, told court that in addition to the missing swallowing muscles, the trachea (windpipe), which carries air to the lungs, and the oesophagus, which transports food to the stomach, had also been severed.
Joan Faith Apio, then aged 6, was discovered dead in the school pit latrine.
By: Godfrey Ojore, Journalist @New Vision
SOROTI - Four key muscles that enable a person to swallow food were missing from the body of the murdered five-year-old Joan Faith Apio, a former pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School, court has heard today (August 3).
The High Court in Soroti, presided over by Justice Boniface Wamala, was receiving the postmortem report following an examination conducted by a police surgeon, Dr. Bernabas Rubanza.
Dr. Rubanza, who was testifying as the seventh prosecution witness in the ongoing murder trial, told court that in addition to the missing swallowing muscles, the trachea (windpipe), which carries air to the lungs, and the oesophagus, which transports food to the stomach, had also been severed.
The medic also told court that Apio died from haemorrhagic shock caused by excessive bleeding following a deep cut to the neck. According to the doctor, the severe blood loss led to the failure of all vital body organs.
Dr. Rubanza further told court that the neck wound measured 39 centimetres. Apio was allegedly murdered inside a toilet at Jozan Nursery and Primary School, where she had spent only two days after joining the school in Primary One.
Six people are jointly charged with her murder. They are: school director Joseph Okedi; his wife Suzan Vivian Ariokot; school headmaster James Edoket; police detective John Bosco Obotol, who is also Okedi's brother; school cook Valentine Opio; and the school matron, Osula Adong. All the accused have denied the charges.
Dr. Rubanza further told court that the neck wound measured 39 centimetres. Apio was allegedly murdered inside a toilet at Jozan Nursery and Primary School, where she had spent only two days after joining the school in Primary One.
Six people are jointly charged with her murder. They are: school director Joseph Okedi; his wife Suzan Vivian Ariokot; school headmaster James Edoket; police detective John Bosco Obotol, who is also Okedi's brother; school cook Valentine Opio; and the school matron, Osula Adong. All the accused have denied the charges.
The first doctor, who conducted the initial postmortem examination at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, Dr. James Draani, told court the muscles were only cut and not missing as stated in the second report.
Francis Ajum, one of the lawyers representing the accused, asked Dr. Draani to explain to court whether it was necessary to have a second postmortem.
“It's proper to do a second postmortem, especially when it is done by a senior medical doctor,” Dr. Draani said.
Draani added that a second postmortem was done through a request from the police without his knowledge.
Two more state witnesses are expected to testify before the close of the day.
Francis Ajum, one of the lawyers representing the accused, asked Dr. Draani to explain to court whether it was necessary to have a second postmortem.
“It's proper to do a second postmortem, especially when it is done by a senior medical doctor,” Dr. Draani said.
Draani added that a second postmortem was done through a request from the police without his knowledge.
Two more state witnesses are expected to testify before the close of the day.