A doctor who treated Filipino nurse Mary Grace has testified in court that there were no visible marks on her neck despite her husband’s claim that he found her hanging.
Marvin S Y Vargas reported that she died by hanging on October 19, 2021. He was also the one who took her into emergency treatment at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
The three doctors in the emergency department had testified there were no hanging marks on Mary’s neck.
At Wednesday’s hearing of the murder trial, the lead doctor backed the testimony of the other two doctors.
The doctor said it is important to find out the reason for the medical emergency and Marvin was questioned when he brought Mary for treatment.
According to the doctor, Marvin claimed the couple had an argument which led him to leave home for a little while and returned to discover his wife hanging using a bedsheet.
She was unconscious when brought in. There was no pulse, no breathing. So we immediately connected her to monitoring and checked blood circulation. I remember that she was given electric shocks twice.
The doctor added that there were no visible hanging marks on the neck but her face was blue. Based on experience, the doctor believed it was caused by asphyxiation.
Autopsy reports came back confirming the doctor’s view that Mary died as a result of asphyxiation. The report also confirmed injuries to the head and neck.
Police believe love affair led to murder
Despite Marvin’s claim that he found her hanging, police conducted an investigation and accused him and his lover Haleemath Lamha of murder.
Mary was a nurse in the IGMH dialysis department while Marvin and Lamha worked as nurses in the casualty department.
The court had previously heard evidence that Mary had confronted Marvin and Lamha when she found out about their affair.
Divorce is illegal in the Philippines so the police believe the pair conspired to murder Mary to officiate their relationship.
Marvin reported the death on October 19, 2021. He was detained a week later on October 27. Lamha was arrested 50 days later on December 16.
Marvin was charged with wilful murder and Lamha was charged with wilfully aiding a murder.
She faces additional charges after police discovered medicines belonging to IGMH hidden in her room which she had taken without permission.
Lamha worked as nurses in the casualty department
The lead doctor had earlier given a statement to police regarding the medicines and was questioned about it in court on Wednesday.
Referring to medical knowledge and experience, the doctor described the uses for the three medicines - two are used to put patients to sleep while the third one is used in cases where blood potential drops.
The state prosecutor wanted to clarify the effects that would be caused when the three medicines were administered at the same time.
It would put the patient to sleep and stop breathing for about 30 seconds to one minute, the doctor affirmed.
The doctor added that It is possible for the patient to begin to wake up after a minute passes.
Both Marvin and Lamha deny the charges.
On Wednesday, Lamha’s attorney requested to grant her a conditional release for 100 days claiming that she is not a danger to the public and that she was facing mental health issues due to prolonged detention.
Judge Hussein Faiz Rashaad said the court will decide on the defense request at the next hearing which is likely to be scheduled in June.
