Pathologist Testifies In Lafaver Trial
Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 13:46
A forensic pathologist took the stand in a Prince Albert courtroom today in the trial of a 68-year-old man accused of killing an Aboriginal woman more than 30 years ago.
William George Lafaver is charged with manslaughter in the 1975 death of Caroline Roberts.
The Montreal Lake band member suffered fatal head injuries while staying at a cabin in Prince Albert National Park.
Dr. Peter Markesteyn spent much of the morning discussing the original autopsy report done on Roberts’ body.
Markesteyn cited a number of problems associated with that report.
He testified no X-rays were taken, and that the doctor who did the autopsy was vague on certain details.
The report stated that the 27-year-old victim suffered a subdural hemorrhage in her brain due to a head injury.
Markesteyn said that couldn’t have been caused by a direct blow to the head — and that it must have been the result of a glancing or rotational blow.
The report noted there were several bruises over Roberts’ body, as well as a deep impact to her chest.
Yesterday, the defence brought in a memory expert who questioned the accuracy of Lafaver’s statements given to police last year.
In two tapes played before the court, Lafaver tells police he hit Roberts and then slammed her head into the floor.
However, the memory expert testified he didn’t believe Lafaver’s version of events due to inconsistencies in the testimony and the fact he was drinking.