Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Shipyard worker on trial for murdering prostitute

DNA of the Indian national accused of murdering Roselyn Reyes Pascua was found on nine items in the room the Filipino woman was stabbed to death in March last year.

Testifying on Wednesday, forensic scientist Kee Koh Kheng said that among other objects, the DNA of Bijukumar Remadevi Nair Gopinathan was found was on a 'pink lacy brassiere', on a pair of denim hot pants and the inside of a brown wallet found between the headboard of the bed and the wall.

His blood was also found on a sanitary pad left on the dressing table.

When cross-examined by defence counsel Shashi Nathan, Ms Kee of the Health Sciences Authority said that the DNA of four unknown men had also been detected in two used condoms and among eight pieces of tissue paper found in the room.

Pascua had been beaten before she was died from a stab that pierced her left lung and penetrated her heart. In all, she was stabbed at least 10 times in the chest and abdomen, once in the neck and twice in the vagina.

The body of the 30-year-old, who is believed to have worked as a prostitute, was found lying in a partitioned room at Peony Mansion in Bencoolen Street, in the early hours of March 15 last year. When arrested three days later, Gopinathan, a shipyard worker, had Pascua's mobile phone and some bloodstained notes on him. He says she provoked him and he stabbed her in a fight.

The trial continues.

Source: ST Online

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