SIBU: The 33rd witness of a triple murder in Pulau Li Hua here Dr Peter Lau told Sibu High Court yesterday that the injuries suffered by Vincent Tiang were “very unlikely to be self-inflicted”.
Dr Lau was testifying against Jacob Tiang who is accused of killing his wife Ling Yung Ming, teenage daughter Christine Tiang and toddler son Victor Tiang and attempting to murder his son Vincent Tiang between 6.20 and 9.50am in their house at Pulau Li Hua here on July 5 last year.
During examination-in-chief by Senior Federal Council Yaakub Chik, Dr Lau, 38, a medical officer at Sibu Hospital, said he found soft tissue injuries on Vincent’s bilateral shoulders, right ear and right posterior scalp when he examined and treated him at Ward 26 in the hospital.
When Yaakub showed a bamboo stick, Dr Lau affirmed the injuries could be caused by hitting with such an object.
Yaakub: Is it possible that these injuries at that area are self-inflicted?
Dr Lau: Very unlikely.
Yaakub: Why?
Dr Lau: I think is it quite difficult for someone to hit himself and cause those injuries because the site and extent of the injuries is not consistent with self-inflicting. I cannot imagine someone hitting himself in the mastoid area and shoulders and causing those injuries.
Yaakub: This area, is it at the back of the head?
Dr Lau: Yes.
He told the court that he carried out coagulation and blood count test on Vincent to make sure he did not have diseases that could cause spontaneous bleeding or bruises.
The test results showed Vincent did not have coagulopathy or tendency to bleed from lack of a special protein, and that he has a normal blood count.
Jacob Tiang faces three murder charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code that carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
He also faces a charge under Section 307 of the same code for trying to kill his son Vincent Tiang.
The attempted murder charge carries a jail term of 10 years, or in this case, 20 years for causing hurt to Vincent while trying to kill him.
Tiang is also charged under Section 309 of the same code for attempted suicide. The charge may lead to imprisonment for a year or fine, or both.
Judge Supang Lian presided over the case.