Wlasiuk Trial: Forensic Pathologist says Death was Murder

6/14/2012 (Updated 11:07:40 PM)

(Source: By Kena Vernon)

The murder trial of Peter Wlasiuk continued Thursday with testimony from an expert forensic pathologist  who says the death was not an accident, it was clearly a murder.

Dr James Terzian took the stand. He is the forensic pathologist who perform the autopsy on Patricia Wlasiuk.

The doctor told jurors Patricia's death was caused by suffocation. The doctor believes her death was not an accidental drowning like her husband said, but instead murder.

"What other findings can give you asphyxiation other than drowning that will give you marks on the face. It's time to look at those and the breast bone was fractured and there was hemorrhaging in the breast bone area. Pretty soon its going to look like someone assaulted her," said Terzian.

During the doctor's testimony the prosecution showed pictures of Patricia's body to the jury. Those pictures showed cuts to her lips and chin. There was also bruising to her shoulders and back.

Investigators say Wlasiuk  told police his wife swerved when she saw a deer and drove into Guilford Lake where she died.Terzian said Patricia's injuries happened before going in the lake. The doctor went onto say he didn't see evidence of a violent crash.

"In this case she didn't have much of anything in her lungs so its unlikely it was a drowning," added Terzian.

The trial continues on Monday.

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