At least 3 bullets entered victim's body, pathologist tells Moncton murder trial

A criminal pathologist testified at the second-degree murder trial of Riley Phillips in Moncton on Friday. 

It's alleged the 20-year-old killed Joedin Leger, 18, on April 25, 2022.

Dr. Marek Godlewski has worked at the Saint John Regional Hospital since 2000.

Godlewski told the court he examined 11 different wounds during Leger's autopsy. Of those, he said nine were connected to bullets and two were abrasions.

He said the fatal wound was from a bullet that entered Leger's torso on the right side, under his arm, and partially severed his aorta.

That bullet came to rest toward the back of Leger's torso on the left side, he said.

Godlewski told the court he recovered the bullet during the autopsy and handed it over to ballistics analysts.

Heavy internal bleeding

Godlewski said that in his opinion, at least three projectiles, or bullets, entered Leger's body. At the most, he said, Leger was shot five times.

The 18-year-old had a second chest wound, which an exit wound on the back of his torso.

There was also an entry and exit wound from a bullet near the top of his left thigh and two entry wounds on Leger's right arm.

Godlewski said the wounds on his right arm could have been caused by the same bullets that caused the torso or thigh wounds, depending on how his body was positioned when shot.

The jury was shown photos from the autopsy during the explanation of Leger's injury. 

Godlewski said internal bleeding likely sped up the teenager's death.

The trial is expected to resume on Tuesday with more witnesses to be called by the Crown.

Originally expected to take four weeks, the trial now is likely to last five, jurors were told Friday.