Khanyisile Nkosi
Khanyisile Nkosi
Michaela Ghairoenisha Lee, the six-year-old girl found murdered in a veld three years ago, tried in vain to free herself from her killer.
Forensic pathologist James Blair Mwesigwa told the Johannesburg high court on Friday that injuries to Michaela's body indicated that she had tried to fight off her attacker before she died.
Michaela of Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, was found dead in a veld on October 7 2005 - a day after she went missing.
Men's underwear, two big bloodied rocks, two bags stashed with pornographic material, and a broken glass were found next to her half-naked body.
A neighbour, Ronald Bruce Jones, 27, of Helga Flats in Eldorado Park, was arrested in connection with Michaela's gruesome murder.
The state alleges that on October 6 2005 Jones called the child while she was playing outside her grandmother's home and sent her to buy a packet of cigarettes.
He then allegedly followed her and took her to a veld where he forced her to touch his penis before he had anal and vaginal sexual intercourse with her. He then allegedly slit and broke her neck.
Jones has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, two counts of indecent assault, rape and murder.
Mwesigwa said when he arrived on the scene on October 7 he found Michaela's body lying on top of a pornographic magazine.
He said injuries on Michaela's private parts could have been caused by a penis.
"Blood [coming from her private parts] had dried up," he said.
Examining the body further, Mwesigwa said he found that there were two incised wounds on the front of Michaela's neck. "The wounds caused significant blood loss," he said.
Mwesigwa said Michaela's broken neck showed that she had been strangled.
He said abrasions on her chest indicated she had tried to resist as she was being strangled.
Mwesigwa said Michaela's attacker must have taken more than eight minutes to kill her.
The trial continues.
Michaela resisted, but in vain
Khanyisile Nkosi
Khanyisile Nkosi
Michaela Ghairoenisha Lee, the six-year-old girl found murdered in a veld three years ago, tried in vain to free herself from her killer.
Forensic pathologist James Blair Mwesigwa told the Johannesburg high court on Friday that injuries to Michaela's body indicated that she had tried to fight off her attacker before she died.
Michaela of Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, was found dead in a veld on October 7 2005 - a day after she went missing.
Men's underwear, two big bloodied rocks, two bags stashed with pornographic material, and a broken glass were found next to her half-naked body.
A neighbour, Ronald Bruce Jones, 27, of Helga Flats in Eldorado Park, was arrested in connection with Michaela's gruesome murder.
The state alleges that on October 6 2005 Jones called the child while she was playing outside her grandmother's home and sent her to buy a packet of cigarettes.
He then allegedly followed her and took her to a veld where he forced her to touch his penis before he had anal and vaginal sexual intercourse with her. He then allegedly slit and broke her neck.
Jones has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, two counts of indecent assault, rape and murder.
Mwesigwa said when he arrived on the scene on October 7 he found Michaela's body lying on top of a pornographic magazine.
He said injuries on Michaela's private parts could have been caused by a penis.
"Blood [coming from her private parts] had dried up," he said.
Examining the body further, Mwesigwa said he found that there were two incised wounds on the front of Michaela's neck. "The wounds caused significant blood loss," he said.
Mwesigwa said Michaela's broken neck showed that she had been strangled.
He said abrasions on her chest indicated she had tried to resist as she was being strangled.
Mwesigwa said Michaela's attacker must have taken more than eight minutes to kill her.
The trial continues.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos