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'With no autopsy, can we be sure Mirna died from cyanide?': Jessica's lawyer
The lawyer of defendant Jessica Kumala Wongso, Otto Hasibuan, questioned whether victim Wayan Mirna Salihin died of cyanide poisoning in light of information that the police did not conduct an autopsy on her.
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Murder defendant Jessica Kumala Wongso (center) sits with her team of attorneys during a hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court on Aug.31. (Antara/Rosa Panggabean)
T
he lawyer of murder defendant Jessica Kumala Wongso, Otto Hasibuan, questioned whether victim Wayan Mirna Salihin died of cyanide poisoning in light of information that the police did not conduct an autopsy on her body.
"Without an autopsy, we can't be sure that she died from cyanide," Otto said after a hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday.
Otto referred to forensic doctor Budi Sampurna’s testimony that an autopsy was the “gold standard” technique to ascertain a person’s cause of death. In a previous hearing, forensic doctor Slamet Purnomo, who examined a sample from Mirna's stomach, said he did not conduct an autopsy due to the refusal of her family. The sample test reportedly showed that Mirna's abdominal organs were damaged by a corrosive substance.
Otto slammed the prosecutors for making invalid accusations while also claiming that the bluish color on Mirna's lips might not have been caused by cyanide.
On the contrary, prosecutor Ardito said Budi’s statement strengthened the testimony of previous witnesses, such as Slamet and toxicologists Nursamran Subandi and I Made Agus Gelgel Wirasuta. He said Budi’s information that cyanide quickly evaporated was in line with Nursamran’s description.
“Even though Mirna’s stomach sample was examined four days after she died, the toxicologist still found cyanide. This means Mirna must have consumed a lot of cyanide,” Ardito said in the courtroom.
The trial will proceed on Thursday with prosecutors presenting a criminologist and psychologist. (rin)
