The Autopsy

NORFOLK POLICE HEADQUARTERS STATION
NAME: DAVID ANTHONY HARRISON
ADDRESS:
AGE / DATE OF BIRTH: OVER 21
OCCUPATION: PATHOLOGIST
Who states: - This statement consisting of 6 pages, each signed by me, is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that if it is tendered in evidence I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated in it anything which I know to be false or do not believe to be true.
DATED: 050391 D A HARRISON (SIGNED)
Autopsy Ref. No: N/0 4-91
Name of Deceased: Anthony GORMAN d.o.b. 17.11.63
Home Address: 27 Browning Place, Kings Lynn.
Address of Scene: Chapel Street, Kings Lynn.
Last seen alive: 0115 hours 2.3.91
Found dead: 0124 hours 2.3.31
Certified dead: 0146 hours 2.3.91
Body identified to me by Police Constable BANKART at 1050 hours 2.3.91
Within the mortuary of the James Paget Hospital
Autopsy performed by Dr. D.A. HARRISON
Consultant Pathologist to the Home Office
Within the Mortuary of the James Paget Hospital, Lowestoft Road,
Gorleston, Great Yarmouth.
Autopsy Commenced: 1050 hours 2.3.31
Autopsy Completed: 1300 hours 2.3.91
Observers present at autopsy:-detective Chief Superintendent SMITH (officer in charge of case)
Detective Inspector ROWLANDS
Police Constable BANKART
Mr Paul STAFFORD
Mr Robert LLOYD
SUMMARY OF CIRCUMSTANCES
The deceased had been involved in an altercation at a nightclub in Kings Lynn and was ejected. Fighting continued outside the club where the deceased was thought to have fallen down a flight of steps. He then made off and was found dead some 300 metres from the scene of the altercation. A request was made by Detective Superintendent that I carry out an autopsy and the body was therefore transported to the James Paget Hospital Mortuary.
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
The Body was that of a well-nourished adult Male 1.7m (5'71/2") in height and weighting 79kg (12.4st). Rigor mortis was present and generalised and hypostatic lividity was moderately well developed and limited to the posterior surface of the body. External injuries were present as follows:
HEAD & NECK:
Multiple irregular areas of abrasion over the front and right side of the forehead.
Right peri-orbital haemorrhage (black eye).
Swollen nose and bruising and abrasion of the bridge. Nasal bones obviously fractured.
Patterned abrasion right cheek over an area measuring 3 X 4. 5cm.
Linear abrasions upper lip on the right side, lips swollen and bruised.
Abrasion to left of chin.
Three separate abrasions to left cheek.
Abrasion 0.7 X O.6cm on the top of the head, to the left of the vertex.
Bruising to right side of neck.
Subconjunctival petachial haemorrhages right lower eyelid.
Tattoo on vertex of scalp.
CHEST & ABDOMEN:
Small abrasions related to the radial one third of the right clavicle.
Two vertical linear scratches of the right hypochondrium.
Tattoo around umbilicus.
ARMS & LEGS:
Tattoos right shoulder, upper and lower arms.
Tattoos left forearm.
Recent bruise left hip.
Old bruises back and front of left thigh.
Scar over right knee.
HANDS:
Right, diffuse bruising over the medial dorsum and over the dorsum of the proximal phalanges middle and ring fingers. Localised abrasions 0.3-0.4cm over dorsum of hand in line with middle finger and also over the dorsum of the middle phalanges of the middle and ring fingers.
Left, abrasion over dorsa distal interphalangeal joint of thumb and proximal interphalangeal joint of middle finger.
Abrasion medial edge of wrist.
2.2cm horizontal scar dorsum of hand medially.
Old scars over thumb proximally.
Abrasion over palmar surface of the thenar eminence.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION
HEAD
Scalp: Deep bruising to the left parietal scale near the vertex. Deep bruising of both temporal muscles.
Skull: Increased in thickness, 0.4cm in the mid-coronal plane, 1.4cm in the occipital region. No fractures.
Dural Sinuses, Meningss, C.S.F.Natural.
Brain: Weighed 1560 gram and appeared swollen. There was flattening of the gyri with injection of small cortical vessels. There was no obvious cortical contusion. Cerebral vasculature transparent. Brain fixed intact for later examination.
RESPIRATORY TRACT
Mouth:
Lips: Bruised and swollen.
Tongue: Bruised anteriorly at left lateral border.
Teeth: Own teeth present. Approximately two-thirds of the lower left lateral incisor broken and not present with body.
Airways: Contained aspirated fresh blood from fractured nasal bones.
Laryngeal Skeleton: Intact. No evidence of aspirated gastric contents. No bruising of deep neck structures. Pleural Cavities: Moist. No adhesions.
Lungs: Weighed right 730 gram, left 730 gram. Both were congested and oedematous. Scanty subpleural petechial haemorrhages noted.
CARDIO-VASCULAR SYSTEM
Pericardium: Natural.
Pericardial Cavity: There was a small pericardial effusion.
Heart: Normal in size and contour and weighed 360 gram. Valve circumferences were within normal limits. Valve cusps smooth and mobile.
Chordae tendineae not thickened. Nyocardium appeared healthy. Both coronary arteries were free from atheroma and their lumina widely patent.
Aorta: Natural.
Pulmonary Artery: Natural.
GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT
Oesophagus: Natural.
Stomach: Dilated by a recently ingested meal. Smell of alcoholic beverage noted.
Small & Large Intestines: Natural.
Peritoneal Cavity: Dry. No adhesions.
Hernial Orifices; Intact.
Liver: Weighed 1370 gram. Capsular and cut surfaces natural.
Gall Bladder: Thin-walled. No calculi. Bile ducts patent. Pancreas: Natural.
GENITO-URINARY SYSTEM
Kidneys: Both kidneys were normal in size and contour and weighed right 150 gram, left 165 gram. The capsules stripped easily revealing smooth external cortical surfaces. Cut surfaces natural.
Pelves, Ureters: Natural.
Bladder: Dilated by approximately 250ml of clear urine. Prostate: Natural.
External Genitalia: Natural.
OTHER ORGAN SYSTEMS
Endocrines: Pituitary Thyroid, adrenals, natural. LYMPHO-RETICULAR SYSTEM
Spleen: Weighed. 100 gram. Capsular and cut surfaces natural.
Lymph Nodes: No obvious lymphadenopathy.
SKELETAL SYSTEM
Fractured nasal bones. No other obvious skeletal abnormalities.
The following samples were taken by me and handed to Detective Inspector ROWLANDS:-
DAH 1 Body Bag.
DAH 2 Left foot bag.
DAH 3 Right foot bag.
DAH 4 Left hand bag.
DAH 5 Right hand bag.
DAH 6 Head bag.
DAH 7 Right shoe.
DAH 3 Left shoe.
DAH 9 Left sock.
DAH 10 Right sock.
DAH 11 Belt.
DAH 12 66 pence in coins right jeans pocket.
DAH 13 Jeans.
DAH 14 Pants.
DAH 15 Wristwatch left wrist.
DAH 16 Red, white and blue top.
DAH 17 Ear-ring left ear.
DAH 18 Head hair.
DAH 19 Pubic hair.
DAH 20 Urine.
DAH 21 Blood, grouping.
DAH 22 Blood, DNA.
DAH 23 Blood, drugs.
DAN 24 Blood, alcohol.
(Blood samples taken 1210 hours 2.3.91)
DAH 25 Spleen.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
A previously healthy adult male who had suffered a severe beating, mainly to the head. The patterned abrasion to the right side of the face is consistent with the deceased having been stamped on whilst on the ground. Defence injuries were minimal and many, or all of them, could have been caused by a fall down the steps outside the night-club.
The head injuries resulted in brain damage which produced pulmonary oedema and death.
CAUSE OF DEATH
1(a) Pulmonary oedema, secondary to
1(b) Head injuries sustained in a fight.
SIGNED: D.A. HARRISON BSc. MBChB. FRCPATH. DMJ (Path)
Consultant Pathologist to the Home Office
D A HARRISON SIGNED
STATEMENT TAKEN PLACE:
TIME: DATE: 050391
WITNESS TO SIGNATURE: D A HARRISON
OFFICERS SIGNATURE: