Mario Deane 'choked on his own blood' Pathologist tells court

Dr Murari Sarangi, the forensic pathologist in the Mario Deane case shared that Deane's autopsy revealed a fractured skull, bleeding in the brain, and internal injuries in the mouth and throat.

He noted that Deane swallowed some of his own blood down into his lungs, leading to choking that contributed to his death.

"The cause of death, in summary, was severe blunt force injury to the head, resulting in a broken skull bone and bleeding in the brain substance, in association with manual strangulation of the neck, resulting in damage and bleeding in the neck structure and lack of oxygen," said Sarangi.

Sarangi told the Westmoreland Circuit Court that Deane's injuries suggested he was held down and hit against blunt surfaces during his beating.

Concluding his evidence-in-chief on Zoom in the trial of Corporal Elaine Stewart and Constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant, Sarangi said that Deane sustained a total of 19 external injuries, including bruises consistent with finger-marks on his arms and the back of his neck, and blunt-force injuries on his head, shoulders and waist.

There was no cross-examination from defence attorneys Martyn Thomas and Dalton Reid.

The trial will continue on Monday, March 31, when a witness from the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is expected to take the stand.

Stewart, Clevon and Grant are charged with manslaughter, misconduct in a public office, and perverting the course of justice, under allegations that they were the officers on duty at the Barnett Street lock-up at the time when Deane was beaten. Deane died at hospital three days later.

Stewart also allegedly ordered the cell where Deane was beaten to be cleaned prior to the arrival of INDECOM investigators.

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