SIBU: Biological samples were taken from murder accused Jacob Tiang before he received treatment, the High Court heard yesterday.
Medical officer Dr Jeremiah Ding, 28 – formerly attached to the Sibu Hospital emergency and trauma department – testified to this when answering a question from Senior Federal Counsel (SFC) Yaakub Chik.
Dr Ding said he found no obvious external injury on the accused but there were some minor abrasion wounds on his neck and wrist.
Tiang, 44, is facing three charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code for causing the death of his wife Ling Yung Ming, daughter Christine and son Victor on July 5 last year between 6.20am and 9.50am at their house in Pulau Li Hua.
He is also charged under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempting to cause the death of his son Vincent at the same place, time and day.
The accused is also charged for an offence under Section 309 of the Penal Code for his attempted suicide at the same place, time and day.
To another question, Dr Ding said the patient was complaining of feeling pain in his neck area.
He said the patient was able to move his neck during examination but it was tender on palpation.
SFC: What is palpation? Dr Ding: Palpation means when we touch a patient he feels pain. SFC: What is musculoskeletal pain? Dr Ding: It means pain of the skin, muscle and structural pain. SFC: Is it possible that these injuries were caused when the accused attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself on the neck using a belt? Dr Ding: It is possible. SFC: What is the cause of musculoskeletal pain at the left buttock of the accused? Dr Ding: I am not sure. The accused did not elaborate. SFC: What could be the cause of that musculoskeletal pain at the left buttock? Dr Ding: Normally pain at the buttock, it is a fall from a height. SFC: Is it possible that his pain at the buttock was caused when the attempted suicide failed? Dr Ding: It is possible.
Upon cross-examination by defence counsel Ben Lau, Dr Ding agreed that the injury sustained by the accused was very mild.
To a question, he said it was not possible that the neck abrasion wounds would have appeared in the event another person held a cloth and strangled the accused.
He said it was possible that the wounds were not caused as a result of attempted suicide.
To a further question, Dr Ding said it was possible the musculoskeletal pain at the left buttock of the accused could have resulted from a person sitting and driving a vehicle on a long distance journey.
On re-examination by SFC, Dr Ding said he did not mention there were abrasion wounds on Tiang’s neck in his medical report because the patient did not complain much about the wounds.
He replied that it was possible that from looking at the abrasion wounds on the neck and his diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain at the anterior neck and left buttock that the accused may have tried to commit suicide.
The hearing before Judge Supang Lian continues today.