The autopsy reports are in.
In Shandra's Neck, I explained why the wound path through Shandra's neck had to be either side-to-side or front-to-back, or nearly so. I ruled out the possibility that she had been stabbed in the neck at most any angle in between.
In Stabbings Well Done and Stabbing Redeaux, I explained why I believed either a side-to-side or a front-to-back wound path would be exculpatory. If side-to-side, the larynx would have been severed and Shandra would have been unable of providing a dying declaration, as the police so claimed. If front-to-rear, the wound path would have been so similar to that suffered by Marcell that the stabbings would have been the result of a well executed attack rather than an uncontrolled flurry, as Hughes so confessed.
The autopsy reports are in. The wound path through Shandra's neck was front-to-rear. The wound in Shandra's neck was more similar to the wound in Marcell's neck than I would have guessed.
I'm going to present the descriptions of the two neck wounds below. Read and compare them carefully. There will be a pop quiz afterwards.
From Shandra's Autopsy Report
There was a stab wound in the left side of the neck at the left submandibular area located 2 inches to the left of midline and 8 inches below the top of the head. The wound measured 1-1/8 inches in length and gaped up to 1/8 inch in width. There was no blunt end. The stab wound track perforated the soft tissues and muscles of the neck, transected the left jugular vein and the left common carotid artery and the track ended in the soft tissues and muscles of the neck with an approximate depth of penetration of 3-1/2 inches. The direction of the stab wound was from front to back, slightly to the right and slightly upwards.
From Marcell's Autopsy Report
There was a stab wound in the left side of the neck at the left submandibular area located 1-1/2 inches to the left of the midline and 7 inches below the top of the head. The wound measured 1 inch in length and gaped up to 1/8 inch in width. There was no blunt end. The stab wound track perforated the soft tissues and muscles of the left side of the neck, perforated the left common carotid artery, the left jugular vein and exited on the left side of the head at a point 2 inches to the left of the midline and 4 inches below the top of the head. The exit wound measured 9/16 inch in length and gaped up to 3/16 inch in width. This was located 4 inches from the entrance wound. The direction of the stab wound was from front to back, upwards and slightly to the left.
Now here's the pop quiz / brainteaser:
- 20 points for the first person to explain why these reports exclude Hughes' knife as the murder weapon.
- 10 points for each unique and insightful observation.
Don't forget to sign your comment with a pseudonym or an actual nym.
