KUALA LUMPUR: A forensics expert admitted in the Sessions Court here that he was able to determine the cause of injuries sustained by Indonesian maid Nirmala Bonat with limitations.
Forensic physician Dr John Andrew Munro Gall, 53, from Melbourne, said this was because he relied heavily on documents and photographs of the maid which were supplied to him by the defence counsel.
“I had no opportunity to see the patient myself, of seeing her injuries and (obtaining) history from her. The photographs are not ideal,” the second defence witness testified yesterday.
Questioned by DPP Raja Rozela Raja Toran, the consultant agreed that he had proceeded to form his opinion on Nirmala’s injuries although he had found some of the photographs sent to him to be of poor quality.
“I have (encountered) similar cases with difficult photographs and we were required to give our opinion and we proceeded to give one,” he testified before judge Akhtar Tahir.
Asked if he could have come up with a different opinion if he was given better photographs of the maid’s injuries, Dr Gall replied: “Probably not.”
Housewife Yim Pek Ha, 40, is facing four counts of causing grievous hurt to her former maid at Villa Putera condominium in Jalan Tun Ismail here between January and May 2004.
Dr Gall, a director and principal of Southern Medical Services Pty Ltd, said he could not give an opinion on the ageing of the injuries and had to depend on reports given by forensic pathologist Dr Hamidah Abdol Jalil and medical officer Dr Afnizar Akbar.
Questioned further by DPP Raja Rozela, he agreed that Dr Hamidah had followed the process in diagnosing Nirmala for her injuries as what he would have done in the matter.
Besides that, he said the doctors had documented the history and injuries sustained by Nirmala and commented on her nature and age of her injuries.
Dr Gall also said that he recalled reading the notes of evidence from consultant psychiatrist Dr Salina Abdul Aziz saying that Nirmala denied having injured herself.
Asked if Nirmala’s injuries were severe, he said he did not consider them to be so.
“If severe, it would occupy large parts of the body and it would be life threatening,” the former lecturer said.
On the injuries on the maid’s breasts, Dr Gall said he thought Nirmala did not wear a bra when Yim allegedly pressed a hot iron on her breasts.
The hearing continues today with the presence of two government experts who assisted the prosecutor in the trial – consultant forensic pathologist Associate Prof Dr Shahrom Abd Wahid and forensic physician and pathologist Dr Zahari Noor.
