Court hears how Todd was found hanged with feet on floor

Court hears how Todd was found hanged with feet on floor

    By Kimberly Spykerman
    POSTED: 15 May 2013 5:15 PM
    UPDATED: 15 May 2013 10:51 PM

On the third day of the coroner's inquiry into the death of American researcher Shane Todd, the court was given an explanation on how he was found hanged with his feet on the floor.

SINGAPORE: The coroner's court was given an explanation on how American researcher Shane Todd was found hanged with his feet on the floor.

This came on the third day of the coroner's inquiry into Dr Todd's death.

Ms Lim Chin-Chin of the Health Sciences Authority's Forensic Science Division gave an account of the simulation experiments that were conducted based on evidence at the death scene.

One of the simulations involved testing the stretching and relaxing of a strap when subjected to a load similar in weight to Dr Todd's body.

The strap was a replica of the one from which Dr Todd was hanged.

Ms Lim revealed that for someone of Dr Todd's height - which is 183cm - there would still be a gap of between 6.5 cm and 11.2cm if the strap did not stretch.

But when subjected to a weight of 89kg - which is Dr Todd's weight - the strap would stretch sufficiently for Dr Todd's feet to have touched the floor.

Another simulation experiment also looked at whether it was possible for Dr Todd to secure the noose around his neck and put it over the top end of the door without any assistance.

The simulation experiments also sought to demonstrate that it was possible for Dr Todd to use his feet to kick a chair that had been found about 1.5 metres from where he was hanged.

Dr Todd's parents were clearly upset after hearing Ms Lim's evidence. As the family's lawyer was about to begin his cross-examination, Dr Todd's mother interrupted to ask if the hearing could be adjourned till Thursday as she felt like she was about to throw up.

Rick Todd, father of Dr Todd, said: "The evidence that has been presented, we can't rely on. It's been moved, it hasn't been preserved. We're trying to get to the bottom of it, I don't know if we will get to the bottom of it."

Dr Todd's mother, Mary Todd, added: "We came to Singapore to find out the truth and we were told the defence and our team would work as a team to find the truth. They're not adversarial. Yet they only are looking at suicide.

"We have given them evidence from the minute we heard our son (hanged), that he could have been murdered. We've given them computer forensic evidence, we've given them physical evidence and we are very, very disappointed."

Earlier, on Wednesday morning, a computer forensics expert testified that the integrity of a laptop belonging to Dr Todd was not compromised.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Kristen Soong, who is from the Technology Crime Division, said that analysis had been done on Dr Todd's laptop to check that no viruses or malicious software had been installed.

Her report was produced by the state's lawyers after lawyers for the Todd family asked if it was possible for someone to access a laptop from a remote location and upload documents on it.

"Suicide notes" - allegedly written by Dr Todd - were found on his laptop when police officers accessed it.

The Todd family's lawyers had asked police officers on Tuesday if it was possible the suicide notes were written by someone else.

ASP Soong said checks had been done for viruses, and on the operating system and user account.

She noted that there were no traces of failed log-ins, and that if the laptop had been accessed from a remote location, traces of malicious software would have been detected.

"The laptop wasn't compromised in any way through hacking or remote access. If so, there would have been traces," she told the court.

Mr Peter Ong, one of the lawyers acting for the Todd family, produced a log from StarHub which appeared to reflect outgoing data activity from his mobile phone between 25 and 29 June 2012 - after Dr Todd died.

The state's lawyers then said they would call a StarHub witness to the stand to explain the details on the log.

They said that questions on why there was activity on Dr Todd's phone after he died should be directed to the investigating officer when he takes the stand.

Meanwhile the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has responded to the Todd family's claim that the inquiry has so far focused on suicide and not homicide.

In a statement on Wednesday, the AGC said lawyers for the Todd family have yet to state their position on the matter, even though state counsel has asked them several times.

The state has also submitted all reports from the family to the court, and notes that although the family's lawyers have raised hypothetical possibilities as to what happened, no other evidence has been provided.

The AGC added that the state still welcomes information from the family regarding evidence they wish to challenge so that it can be looked into at the inquiry.

The state notes that it is prepared to provide funding for foreign witnesses that the family wish to call on to give evidence.

A pathologist consulted by the family will be giving evidence through video-link, and a computer forensic analyst, also consulted by the Todds, is expected to give evidence in court.


- CNA/ir

- wong chee tat :)