‘No doubt’ Todd committed suicide

SINGAPORE — There were no injuries to his body that indicated he was garroted or had put up a struggle, as it emerged yesterday that American researcher Shane Truman Todd was diagnosed with major depressive disorder two months before he died from an apparent suicide.

Testifying on the fourth day of a Coroner’s Inquiry into Todd’s death, Senior Consultant Forensic Pathologist Wee Keng Poh said he had “no doubt” that Todd had died of “asphyxia due to hanging”.

Dr Wee, who had supervised Todd’s autopsy after he was found hanged in his apartment near Chinatown on June 24 last year, also disagreed with a report produced by a pathologist consulted by Todd’s parents, which stated that he was “killed by an encircling ligature” and had “engaged in a fight as evidenced by the blunt trauma to both hands”.

In ascertaining the cause of Todd’s death, Dr Wee noted that the ligature mark around Todd’s neck, which extended from below the chin towards the back of the neck in a “V” shape and had a gap of 4cm at the back of the neck, was “typical of hanging”.

A strangulation mark would have been more horizontal and completely encircled his neck.

There was also no damage or bleeding in the internal structures of his neck, which would appear if Todd had been strangled.

Responding to the findings of Dr Edward Adelstein, the Deputy Medical Examiner the Todd family had consulted, Dr Wee explained that the “bruises” seen on Todd’s hands in photographs taken while he was in his casket about two weeks after his death were not indications of blunt trauma.

Rather, the discoloration on Todd’s hands was caused by “post-mortem lividity”, which is “sinking of the blood in the dependent parts of the body after death”, Dr Wee said.

Asked by lawyer Steven Lam, who is counsel for Todd’s parents, Dr Wee agreed that he had ruled out the possibility of homicide “right from the beginning”.

Dr Wee’s findings have been corroborated by two Chief Medical Examiners from the US, whom the State consulted as independent experts. Their reports have been submitted to the inquiry.

Todd’s parents, who are attending the inquiry, believe that he was murdered over research he had done while working for the Singapore Institute of Microelectronics.

Yesterday, consultant psychiatrist Nelson Lee told the inquiry that he had diagnosed Todd “to be suffering from a relapse of his depression and noted that he had a significant component of anxiety” on April 4 last year.

Todd “indicated his main problem was his struggles with stress, anxiety, and depression due to work and life related issues,” although he did not elaborate, Dr Lee said.

Dr Lee said he prescribed Todd, who was having difficulties focusing at work, with an antidepressant. When pointed out by Mr Lam that Todd had already left his job, which was his main stressor, two days before his death, Dr Lee said it was unlikely for recovery from depression to be spontaneous. And a new job could possibly add to anxiety, he added.

Speaking to the media after the inquiry, Todd’s parents yesterday retracted comments they had made to reporters during the lunch break, saying that “it was a very emotional morning”. Among other things, Todd’s father, Mr Rick Todd, had told reporters that investigations were not up to “international standards”.

“We are sorry the word ‘corrupt’ came out and we have faith in the Singapore court system,” he said.

Mrs Todd added that they were happy with the evidence adduced yesterday.

“We think it went really well today, because it was obvious our son had gotten a job and (was) very excited about it. It was obvious his bags were packed. There were little price tags on his furniture that he was leaving so there were a lot of statements said that made it look like our son was really looking forward to life.”