Raheem: Prosecution Closes Case With Pathologist’s Testimony

The Lagos State Government has closed its case in the murder trial of the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi, who allegedly shot Lagos-based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem on Christmas Day.

The prosecution closed its case after calling the eleventh witness, a pathologist, Dr Oluwaseun Williams.

Led in his testimony by the Lagos State Solicitor General & Perm Sec, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the witness told Justice Ibironke Harrison that after inviting the deceased’s husband, Gbenga, and the investigating police officer to identify the corpse, his team proceeded with an internal examination where various injuries were identified and recorded.

He said the injuries were external to internal, resulting in multiple defects, mainly on the anterior chest and on the left auxiliary fold.

“On internal examination, there were multiple visceral injuries, specific ones, which include multi rib fractures, multiple injury to the intercoastal spaces, and injury to both lungs.”

“The examination conducted on the deceased, established three factors as the cause of Bolanle Raheem’s death which are; haemorrhagic shock; destruction of the chest visceral and musculoskeletal tissue,” the pathologist said

The pathologist also mentioned in his testimony that the postmortem report confirmed the deceased was pregnant, adding that the gun shot was at a close range.

Under cross examination, the defence counsel, Adetokunbo Odutola asked the witness if could determine through his postmortem report, the person who pulled the trigger that killed the deceased, to which the witness said, ‘no’.

Mr Odutola also contended that the expert witness based his postmortem records on media reports, but he responded that all conclusions were made on findings discovered at the autopsy.

Dr Williams said the degree of explosive force of a bullet discharged from an AK-47, is thousands of the magnitude of a fire hose, that will penetrate into the body, whether the individual is standing or sitting.

After his testimony, the court discharged the witness and the prosecution closed its case.

The defence counsel, then requested for leave to file a ‘no case submission’ seeking to quash the charge against the defendant.

Following his submission, Justice Harrison ordered both counsel to file their motions and written addresses and adjourned to February 28, 2023 for the adoption of the court processes.