SINGAPORE — Details of the injuries that caused a 41-year-old construction worker to lose his life in the Kallang slashing incident in May 2010, as well as the extent of the wounds on the three other victims, were revealed on the third day of the murder trial of the two accused.

Forensic pathologist Paul Chui, a prosecution witness, told the High Court yesterday that Mr Shanmuganathan Dillidurai sustained 20 injuries. He had died of multiple injuries, including an open fracture of his skull, a gaping wound at the neck and a slash wound “across the shoulder blade bone”, which caused his lungs to be deflated.

When asked by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Anandan Bala how the injuries were caused, Dr Chui said the head injuries could have been inflicted by a “bladed weapon”.

DPP Bala then displayed a parang — a large knife with a short-edged blade used as a weapon and tool.

When asked if it was possible for such a tool to inflict the slash wound on the skull, Dr Chui said “it is possible”.

Two men from Sarawak — Micheal Anak Garing, 25, and Tony Anak Imba, 34 — are on trial for the murder. They are among a group of four men accused of carrying out four violent robberies from the night of May 29, 2010, to the early hours of May 30.

In January, a third man, Hairee Anak Landak, was sentenced to 33 years’ jail and 24 strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to armed robbery with grievous hurt. An alleged accomplice, Donny Meluda, is still at large.

During cross-examination, Micheal’s lawyer, Mr Ramesh Tiwary, asked Dr Chui if he was certain that only one weapon was used in the attack on Mr Shanmuganathan.

The pathologist replied that more than one weapon “could” have been used.

When asked also if the injuries in the attack were caused by only one person, Dr Chui said he was unable to tell if more than one person had caused the injuries.

Another prosecution witness, Dr Sharon Low, a neurosurgeon at the National Neuroscience Institute who attended to another victim, Mr Sandeep Singh, testified that his “multiple slashes were visible” and mostly on the “left side of the body”.

Mr Singh had injuries on his head, left hand and back.

There was also an “open skull fracture” and part of his brain was “exposed to the environment”, which could have resulted in death had he not been given early medical treatment, said Dr Low.

The trial continues.