Jury hears how fatal blow to heart killed 27-year-old
A medical expert told the Supreme Court that Daunte Woods was killed by a stab to his heart.
Michael Steckbauer, a forensic pathologist, told the court that Mr Woods, 27, died as a result of a sharp force injury that punctured his left atrium and his aorta, the largest artery in the body.
“The damage to the heart and aorta would not be survivable,” he said. “Not in the short term and not in the long term, even with immediate medical care.
“Even if it happens in a hospital parking lot, it’s hard to get on the operating table fast enough.”
He added that the fatal injury would have been delivered with some force as it had gone through the victim’s sternum.
“Even if it’s not a very heavy, thick bone, it’s a bone,” he said. “We are talking about putting a knife or something straight through that bone.
“Even if it’s sharp, it still takes a lot of force.”
Dr Steckbauer said he also identified sharp force injuries to Mr Woods’s shoulder and left side.
However, he explained that the depth of the wound could not be used to determine the length of the blade as the body compresses when pressure is applied, allowing the instrument to penetrate further.
Jahmari Beach, 33, has denied charges that he murdered Mr Woods outside of Somerset Cricket Club in Sandys on October 25, 2020.
He has also denied possessing a bladed article in a public place on the same date.
The court previously heard that the men were seen in an altercation inside the club earlier in the evening.
A witness said the dispute escalated rapidly after they had left the club with Mr Woods acting as the aggressor, approaching Mr Beach with a “very long blade” while the defendant had a fishing knife or a pocket knife.
By law, pocket knives with a blade shorter than 3in are permitted without restriction.
Pc Daischon Chin told the court that he was off duty on the night of the incident when he saw several men involved in an argument.
He said that he told the men to calm down and went into the Cricket Club, but came outside again after he heard screaming.
Pc Chin said he performed CPR on Mr Woods until he was pulled away by either an officer or an EMT.
Asked by Elizabeth Christopher about the dispute he witnessed, he confirmed that he had seen four or five people involved and Mr Beach was walking backwards while the others were moving towards him.
“He was having a confrontation with a number of young men,” the officer said. The trial continues.
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