Fijai taxi driver who died in police custody did not die by suicide

Dr Isaac Erskine, the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital pathologist who performed an autopsy on the deceased Fijai taxi driver says the victim did not die of suicide by hanging.

In a court proceeding on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Dr Erskine was subjected to a cross-examination by lawyer Ebo Donkor, counsel for the family of the deceased.

During the cross-examination, the doctor confirmed that after examining and critically analysing the victim’s organs, the death cannot be a result of a possible suicide by hanging.

According to him, the deceased died of a possible external violent act.

In clarifying his statement, he said that even though there was a ligature mark on the victim’s neck, which is an impression left behind by a rope-like object used for hanging, his results from the autopsy do not attribute his death to suicide.

Also, he indicated most of his organs were intact including the oesophagus, windpipes and the laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple), which should have been bruised if the victim hanged himself.

Background:

On December 25, 2021, the late Joseph Entsie was arrested and detained in custody at the Sekondi Central Police Station for allegedly breaking traffic rules.

The driver was later pronounced dead while in police custody on the same day. The police announced to the family that their relative committed suicide whilst in custody and that caused his death.

The body was then deposited at the Effiankwanta Regional Hospital Morgue and later transferred to a mortuary at Funkoe.

A coroner ordered an autopsy to be conducted to ascertain the real cause of the death of the taxi driver.

From this, a pathologist at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital known as Dr Erskine on January 10, 2022, conducted the examination.

According to the family, the pathologist communicated to them that the real cause of death of their relative was not a result of hanging as alleged by the police.

The lawyer indicated that the family is demanding the full autopsy report from the pathologist.