Gunshots to chest and abdomen proved fatal says pathologist

While Shae Hackett sustained multiple gunshot wounds, Forensic Pathologist Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul told the High Court that the fatal injuries were those to the chest and abdomen.

He was testifying during the murder trial of Adrian Ryan Jones, of Enterprise Main Road, Christ Church, and Jamal Omar Anthony Maynard, of No. 21 St Paul’s Avenue, Bayville, St Michael, at the No. 3 Supreme Court.
The men are accused of murdering 20-year-old Hackett on September 6, 2021.

Giving his evidence on Monday, the expert witness outlined the findings of the post-mortem conducted on Hackett’s body.

“On the evening of September 6, 2021, Mr Hackett, a 20-year-old man, was reportedly involved in a dispute with another man and received gunshot wounds to his chest, abdomen, back and legs. The gunshot wound to his right lower chest travelled upwards, lacerating the liver and also the apex of the heart.

“The gunshot wound to the left side of the abdomen lacerated the small intestine and entered the thoracic vertebrae, and the tenth vertebra was damaged. So the bullet ricocheted and bruised the upper kidney and shattered the eighth rib to exit through the back. It exited the back laterally as it caused extensive damage. So the gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen were fatal as they caused extensive damage resulting in lacerations of the liver and the heart, causing haemorrhage,” Dr Karra Paul explained to the jury.

The pathologist also stated that there were abrasions on Hackett’s body caused by the skin coming into contact with a “hard and rough object”, which indicated that he had been struggling with someone on the ground.

King’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim is representing Jones along with attorney Summer Hassell, while Maynard is represented by defence lawyer Safiya Moore. Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Krystal Delaney is representing the State.

The matter, which is being presided over by Justice Carlisle Greaves, is scheduled to continue on Tuesday.