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--> <!-- Author --> By Sujin Thomas
PHOTOGRAPHS - 120 in all - were used to paint a likely scenario
of events that transpired between Nanyang Technological University
(NTU) student David Hartanto Widjaja and Associate Professor Chan
Kap Luk on March 2.
On that day, Mr Widjaja was found dead after falling four
storeys from a link bridge on campus. Minutes before, he was seen
running from the office of Prof Chan, his final-year project
supervisor, after allegedly being in a knife struggle with him.
On the fifth day of the coroner's inquiry into Mr Widjaja's
death, forensic scientist Lim Chin Chin told the court that her
findings were based on the photographs, two visits to the campus in
April, and information given by the police.
Ms Lim, from the Forensic Chemistry and Physics Laboratory of
the Health Sciences Authority, took the witness stand yesterday,
along with Dr Christopher Syn, a senior forensic scientist who
conducted a DNA examination of blood taken at the scene.
She said almost all the bloodstains left behind in Prof Chan's
office - including some found on the wall above a computer monitor
- belonged to Mr Widjaja. Prof Chan had been seated near the
computer when the alleged attack began.
These stains indicate the swing of an arm downwards from
somewhere above the monitor where blood was either cast off from a
wound or from a bloodstained object, she said.
Dr Syn told the court on Monday that only Mr Widjaja's blood was
found on the knife handle. He added that the blade, which broke off
during the struggle, had a mixture of Mr Widjaja and Prof Chan's
blood.
Ms Lim said Prof Chan's blood was detected only on the floor
near a computer table. Blood from a partial palm print on some
documents near the office door was also found to be Mr
Widjaja's.
Outside the room, blood trailed in two different directions. One
was caused by Prof Chan while the other, more severe, was from Mr
Widjaja. The soles of Mr Widjaja's feet were soaked in blood
although he did not leave any footprints along the trail.
Ms Lim said he was likely to have 'inked his feet in blood' that
dripped from a deep cut on his right wrist, before sitting on the
ledge of the glass roof. The hearing continues on June 17.