Autopsy could not find cause of Saemala’s death in custody
POST-MORTEM examination and lab tests result from Australia were unable to determine the cause of death of the late David Saemala who died in police custody last year, the brother of the deceased told the coronial inquiry.
Solomon Saemala was giving evidence in the coronial inquiry into his brother’s death in custody that was held at the Honiara Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
He told the inquiry that he was present when the doctor did the post mortem on his brother’s body at the National Referral Hospital (NRH).
“What I expect from the doctor is for him to determine the cause the death straight after the postmortem,” Solomon Saemala said.
When asked by public prosecutor Florence Joel if the doctor told him the cause of his brother’s death, Solomon said, “no.”
The inquiry heard that Solomon had asked the doctor about the black marks on his brother’s body which he was told by the doctor that his brother’s body is starting to rot.
Asked by the coroner if he could tell how long his brother had died according to his observation, Solomon said, he could not tell.
“The doctor said he cannot tell me the cause of the death but will be sending specimen to Australia to test at the lab.”
Solomon said he was told that the result from the specimen still cannot determine the cause of death.
When asked by the coroner what was going on in his mind when he kept on asking the doctor who conducted the post mortem questions, Solomon said he was not satisfied with the doctor’s answer.
He said he wants to know the cause of his brother’s death but the doctors were not able to determine that.
Solomon came to know of his brother’s death on the early afternoon on 28 June 2016.
He told the inquiry that he first saw his brother’s body was at the morgue at around 6pm on that same day.
The last time Solomon saw his brother alive was on 22 June 2017 when he came to his house.
Asked about his brother’s health, Solomon said his brother was fit and healthy the last time he saw him.
Solomon told the inquiry that his brother used to come to his house with his friends to cook their food.
David used to live with his sister.
“After my sister left, he stayed with his friends at Mbokona.”
When asked if he was aware his brother was taking alcohol or drugs, Solomon said, yes he was aware and that he had trouble with the police few times.
The coronial inquiry into the death in custody will continue this afternoon.
The young deceased died in custody in 27 June last year at the Central Watch House while held under a warrant of arrest.
Assisting the coroner Chief Magistrate John Numapo are public prosecutors Ms Joel and Ishmael Kekou.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
