By AZARD ALI Wednesday, September 23 2009

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Dr Hughvon deS Vignes...

A pathologist yesterday cited for a San Fernando jury, a list of over 30 injuries which he said were inflicted on a two-and-a-half year old girl at her home in Couva five years ago.

Kareema Roberts, it was revealed, died from ruptured liver and brain injuries. However, forensic pathologist, Dr Hughvon des Vignes, said the injuries could not have been caused by someone throwing the child from his or her arms while playing with her.

Kareema’s stepfather, Anton Hainsley Bruce, 24, is before Justice Malcolm Holdip and a 12-member jury in the San Fernando High Court, charged with the child’s murder.

Bruce is contending in a confession statement that he was playing with Kareema at their home on Paradise Street, Calcutta, Couva, when he threw her up, but he failed to catch her.

Kareema fell on the ground, Bruce is contending the child sustained injuries and died.

The incident occurred on April 8, 2004.

Yesterday, Senior State Attorney, Angelica Teelucksingh called des Vignes to testify, having done the autopsy on the child’s body himself at the Forensic Science Centre. He listed 17 abrasions and scrapes Kareema had throughout her body. She had a “busted” lip, as well as injuries to the chest, abdomen, cheeks, and back. Des Vignes then went on to tell the judge and jury that young Kareema had eight scrapes and abrasions to the right side of the head behind the ear; beneath the chin, and nostrils.

The forensic pathologist then went on to tell the court that he proceeded to do an internal examination of the child.

Kareema, des Vignes said, was bleeding and bruised on the left side of the brain. Explaining to the judge that a severe degree of force was used, he added that the brain hit against the skull. “The brain hit against the inside of the skull. It was overweight, congested and red, due to the presence of blood and fluids,” De Vignes said.

The child’s heart, he said, was congested with blood “ about one and a half of a small orchard juice pack”.

The child also suffered bruising and bleeding at the root of the lungs. But in the opinion of des Vignes, Kareema died from a tear in the liver associated with multiple blunt traumatic injuries. Death was also contributed, he added, by the injuries to the head.

Asked by Teelucksingh if a child falling after being thrown into the air by a person with the height of the accused stepfather would suffer such injuries, des Vignes said “no.”

Accused Bruce was asked to stand in the dock so the forensic pathologist could see his height.

The trial continues today.