Todd coroner’s inquiry: Expert recants strangulation finding

SINGAPORE — The medical examiner consulted by the parents of American researcher Dr Shane Todd recanted his opinion that Todd had been killed by strangulation with a cord or wire. Testifying in court via video link from the United States on the day seven of the coroner’s inquiry into the death of Todd, Dr Edward Adelstein said that he now agrees with four other pathologists that Todd could not have been garrotted with a cord or wire due to an absence of neck injuries and damaged blood vessels. But Dr Adelstein said that after receiving more information from Todd’s parents he concluded that the 31-year-old could have died from other causes, such as from being tasered or with a carotid arm lock, although he admitted that there was no medical evidence. He maintained, however, that Todd was already dead before he was “strung up” and that he had been involved in a fight because of the “bruising” on his knuckles — an injury consistent with a person who practiced martial arts. Dr Adelstein, who is not a forensic pathologist and had concluded his review with just five photos of Todd taken while he was placed in the casket, also suggested that there was a possibility of more than one “assassin” involved in Todd’s death. Todd’s parents had approached Dr Adelstein in October last year to review the post-mortem report of their 31-year-old son, who was found hanged in his apartment in June last year in what was an apparent suicide. They believe that he was murdered over research done while working for the Institute of Microelectronics. Dr Adelstein’s findings contradict those of Senior Consultant Forensic Pathologist Wee Keng Poh, who testified last week that Todd had “no doubt” died of asphyxia caused by hanging. He also explained that the “bruises” seen 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. The inquiry continues.