THE trajectory of the last gunshot wound and abrasions on 19-year-old Carl Arnaiz’ body shows that the victim may have been lying down when he was shot dead, an expert said in a hearing.
Dr. Jocelyn Cruz, a medico legal officer of the Northern Police District Crime Laboratory Office, took to the witness stand at the Navotas Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 287 on Friday, Sept. 28.
Arnaiz was a former University of the Philippines student who went missing after leaving his house at Cainta, Rizal to buy snacks and was later on found dead in a Caloocan morgue.
Police said Arnaiz was killed in a shootout after he allegedly attempted to rob a taxi driver along C3 Road and was found in the possession of illegal substances.
But eyewitnesses said Arnaiz was tortured and begged for his life before he was killed for no apparent reason.
Two rookie cops, Police Officer (PO) Jeffrey Perez and PO1 Ricky Arquilita – who are tagged as Arnaiz’ killers – are facing double murder charges.
An autopsy report and anatomical sketch brought by Cruz showed that Arnaiz suffered from abrasions on the eyelid, collarbone, and back, hematoma on the wrists, bruises, and five gunshot wounds – four on the body and one on the arm.
All injuries were sustained while the victim was still alive, she said.
The abrasions indicate that Arnaiz may have been dragged on the ground and handcuffs may have caused the hematoma found on both wrists of the victim, she added.
All five of the gunshot wounds were described by Cruz as “through and through,” which means the bullets had a point of entry and exit in the victim’s body.
Cruz claimed she did not have prior knowledge on how long it has been since Arnaiz’ killing and who killed him when she conducted the post-mortem examination.
The medico legal officer also shut down suspicions that the victim’s wounds may have been inflicted during the embalmment process.
Cruz said that the injected formalin only brought discoloration on Arnaiz’ clavicle. She added that personnel from the funeral homes would mark it if they had inflicted wounds on the body.
She also said that there is a visible difference if a wound is inflicted on someone who is alive or someone who is dead.
The next hearing is set on Friday, October 19. (Minka Klaudia S. Tiangco)
