|
November 19, 2009 Medical examiner testifies about bent knifePosted: 11:56 AM ET
Fort Myers, Florida - The Deputy Chief Medical Examiner of Lee County, Dr. Robert R. Pfalzgraf, was back on the stand Wednesday afternoon in the case of Florida v. Juan Mendez Jr. Dr. Pfalzgraf’s testimony had been abruptly halted earlier in the week when the forensic pathologist testified he had compared a knife found near the crime scene with the stab wounds on the victims. Defense attorney Gary Bass objected to this testimony by stating the medical examiner had told the defense during their deposition with him, that he had never before seen a knife connected to the case. After much argument, it was finally determined by Judge Steinbeck that the state was responsible for a discovery violation. They never alerted the defense, as required under Florida law, to Dr. Pfalzgraf’s opinion that the half-circle, bent knife blade could have inflicted the victim’s wounds. Following Judge Steinbeck’s final ruling that the discovery violation did not materially hinder the defense’s case, the prosecution put the medical examiner back on the stand. Dr. Pfalzgraf not only testified the bent knife could have inflicted the wounds, but that the bent tip and knife blade may have come from the murderer intentionally stabbing into a victim’s skull. On cross-examination, Gary Bass asked the forensic pathologist why he was handing the knife with his bare hands, instead of wearing gloves that professionals normally do on the stand. The doctor seemed to laugh and testify it wasn’t really any different from any knife in any home, and since prints had been processed, it didn’t really make a difference if he handled it with his bare hands. Juan Mendez Jr. is facing life in prison for the stabbing deaths of his wife Whitney Mendez and her mother Lorena Stone. – Jean Casarez, In Session Correspondent Filed under: Trials |
Contact us
Recent Posts
In Session Team
Archive
Categories
|
Loading weather data ...