Trial’s expert challenged
A DOCTOR defending alleged baby killer Nicholas Baxter has had his career questioned in court, as it emerged he had performed autopsies without a permit.
Seattle- based forensic pathologist Dr Carl Wigren appeared in Townsville Supreme Court over videolink yesterday, the second medical expert to appear in Baxter’s defence.
Baxter, 37, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his sixweek- old son Matthew by shaking or striking him on November 3, 2011.
Dr Carl Wigren said he reviewed Matthew’s medical records and found no evidence of injury to his neck, or bumps on his scalp, that would indicate shaking or impact.
“If you impart enough force or energy to the head to cause subdural ( brain) bleeding, then it is very unlikely that you will not suffer a neck injury,” Dr Wigren said. “The biomechanical literature does not support the evolution of a subdural, or the causation of a subdural, from shaking alone.
“The forces generated aren’t great enough.”
On questioning from Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane, Dr Wigren said he performed autopsies without a permit while working in Texas.
“That received a lot of media attention at the time, is that right?” Mr Crane said.
The doctor replied, “Yes, that’s correct.”
Dr Wigren said he owned a business where lawyers could contact him for consultation, for a fee.
Mr Crane said that one of the biomechanical studies Dr Wigren relied on had been “totally discredited” by a more recent report in 2009.
“I’m not familiar with that article ... I can’t speak to that,” the doctor said.
Mr Crane asked if he knew of a “fairly significant” study about 45 cases of confessed inflicted head injuries.
Dr Wigren said he wasn’t just aware of the study and a biomechanical engineer may be better versed on it.
“I’m exploring your knowledge given the nature of your opinions that you’ve given in this court,” Mr Crane said.
Defence barrister Lincoln Crowley said the doctor was being questioned about something he didn’t know.
“It seems like he doesn’t know much, Your Honour,” the prosecutor said.
University of Texas pathology department chairman Dr Michael Laposata, who was previously a Harvard University professor, also gave evidence over videolink yesterday.
He said vitamin K deficiency could lead to spontaneous bleeding, including in the brain.
Dr Laposata said he reviewed Matthew’s pathology results and it appeared he suffered a late- onset vitamin K deficiency.
He said Matthew may also have had the blood clotting disorder disseminated intravascular coagulation ( DIC).
The trial continues.