Liam stabbed 20 times and died rapidly, trial told 23/5/13
Liam Aitchison was stabbed 20 times a jury at Glasgow High Court was told today.
The 16-
Giving evidence at the alleged murder trial, Dr Rankin said she examined the boy’s dead body in a derelict house in Steinish by Stornoway, on 30th November 2011.
She estimated Liam died around in the early hours of 23 November, a week previously. She agreed with prosecutor Iain McSporran that her observations were consistent with Liam dying at 2am that day.
Johnathan Mackinnon and Stefan Millar, both of Lewis, deny murdering Liam Aitchison in a derelict house in Steinish outside Stornoway.
It is alleged he was hit on the head and body with a knife and bottle and was kicked and stamped on his head.
The pathologist said she concluded Liam died of “profuse hemorrhaging” and agreed with prosecutor Iain McSporran that the principal cause of death, as recorded by the death certificate, was multiple stab wounds to the neck and chest.
Fatal blows punctured two major arteries she said including one of eight to the neck, consistent with being from a sharp weapon or implement, which cut the carotid artery which “is a vital source of blood to the brain.”
There would have been “significant hemorrhaging” which would have been fatal, she told the court.
The “most significant” of seven stab wounds to his chest was one which penetrated the aorta which “carries blood round the heart and distributes it to the rest of the body” in what would have been a “rapidly fatal injury,” she told the prosecutor.
There were five stab wounds to his abdomen, said Dr Rankin.
One passed through the spleen and penetrate the small bowel which would be fatal without medical treatment, she said.
The pathologist agreed with Mr McSporran the lack of blood from the spleen wound suggested he was either dead or dying by this time because of the “other significant injuries.”
“Defensive-
Mr Rankin said people in such a scenario would lift their arms to cover their face “so the arms take the blow. If it was a knife attack, you might attempt to disarm the assailant by grabbing the knife.”
His upper jaw was “extensively” fractured as was his lower jaw, as well as lacerations and marks about his head and face.
She agreed some of his teeth were missing.
In response to the prosecutor, Dr Rankin said: “One stamp could have produced a number of these inquiries,” to Liam’s face.
A laceration to this forehead could have been caused by a blunt object or by a fall to the ground, she said.
Mr McSporran asked if a blow using a glass beer bottle could cause such an injury.
The witness replied: “It could result in lacerations, yes.”
She agreed that Liam’s “face was a mess” and that his father and step-
Dr Rankin said Liam was under the influence of alcohol when he died -
The trial, before judge Lord Kinclaven, continues.