Prosecutors are expected to present further evidence in the trial against Tedson Knowles, who is accused of killing Carissa Chandler in a domestic dispute.
Knowles is on trial for the alleged murder of Chandler, his common-law spouse, who was fatally shot in New Winthorpes on May 23, 2019, allegedly during a domestic dispute between them.
The prosecution sought to establish Knowles’ culpability in Chandler’s death with expert witness Dr Petra Miller Nanton, giving crucial evidence last week.
Dr Nanton, a senior registrar in the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre’s Department of Pathology, recounted her examination of Chandler’s body on June 13, 2019.
She described the body as being covered in dried blood from front to back with no clothing, noting an entry wound on the upper right side of the chest, and an exit wound on the right upper back.
Dr Nanton also detailed the characteristics of the wounds, suggesting they were consistent with close-range gunshot injuries.
The doctor described the exit wound as star-shaped or ragged, with an outer rim measuring 16mm in diameter and inner rim measuring 11mm, concluding that the shape and size of the wound suggested Chandler was shot from the front.
The doctor also observed haemorrhaging in the chest area and noted that many of her organs appeared extremely pale.
She attributed Chandler’s death to exsanguination, or massive blood loss, resulting from the gunshot wound to her chest.
In cross-examination, defence attorney Wendel Alexander attempted to challenge Nanton’s conclusions, seeking to suggest alternative reasons for Chandler’s injuries.
However, Dr Nanton stood by her assessment, maintaining that the evidence pointed to gunshot trauma as the cause of death.
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