Stabbing intended to "severely maim", says pathologist

SINGAPORE: Of the 15 stab wounds found on Ms Jeevitha Panippan’s body, three of them — on her neck, left shoulder and left chest — were fatal, consultant forensic pathologist George Paul testified on Wednesday.

The wounds on the 18—year—old private student and kindergarten teacher’s body suggested that her assailant’s blows were intended to "severely maim, threaten or hurt" and were unlikely to have been caused by a "cavalier" manner of slashing, he added.

Dr Paul was testifying at the murder trial of Pathip Selvan Sugumaran at the High Court.

The 23—year—old, also known as "Marsiling Baby" or "Woodlands Baby" to friends, is accused of murdering his girlfriend Jeevitha on July 7 last year.

Ms Jeevitha’s body was found the following morning beside an SP Powergrid substation at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4.

The fact that the stabs cut through cartilage in her neck and her ribs showed that they were "intended thrusts", Dr Paul said. "The force is such that even the obstruction of the rib didn’t stop (the blow)."

A psychiatric report done on Pathip revealed why the defence has been intending to make a case of "sudden and grave provocation".

The accused had apparently told the psychiatrist that on the day of the alleged murder, he paid a surprise visit to Jeevitha’s flat. He had said she was sick and he wanted to bring her to the doctor.

At her flat, Pathip claimed that he saw a man lying on top of her. He added that this led to a chain of events that culminated in a confrontation at the SP Powergrid substation, where he stabbed her to death.

Pathip will be hanged if he is convicted. The trial continues on Thursday.

— TODAY