The police crime scene investigation officer testified in the Criminal Court on Wednesday that Marvin Vargas had bruises and minor injuries on the day of his wife's death.
Mary Grace dies in October 2021. Marvin claims she committed suicide, but the police launched a homicide investigation against Marvin and his lover Haleemath Lamha. Both have denied charges.
The police officer who examined Marvin's body testified that there were bruises on his left knee, chest, abdomen, left shoulder and back. He included photographs in his crime scene report.
When asked if he had obtained Marvin's permission to take the photographs, the witness said he cooperated and showed them the injuries himself. When asked if he had obtained a court order, he said it was not part of his job and the search was considered a crime scene.
Lamha is charged with possession of a bottle of medicine that is prohibited from being taken out of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). The investigation showed that the drug was found in Mary's body.
The forensic analyst who analyzed the bottle testified that he was handed the injection bottle to see if it had been used. He testified that the bottle of drugs had been used.
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.
