Opinion ID: 1462658
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Dr. Desjardins' testimony.

Text: Appellant admitted the qualifications of Dr. Desjardins as a pathologist, a specialty which includes the performing of autopsies to determine the cause of death. This witness performed an autopsy on the body of Smith. He testified that he had found in Smith's body round paper discs and wadding which, as a result of his vast experience, he recognized as parts of a shell. Based on his examination of the body he expressed his professional opinion that Smith died as the result of gunshot wounds, although in response to a query by the Court he stated that Smith's body was in such a state of decomposition he was unable to state definitely whether or not there was some other cause of death or cooperating factor. Dr. Desjardins' opinion was corroborated by the testimony of a ballistic expert, Lieutenant Crowthers, who testified that the paper discs and wadding which Dr. Desjardins had removed from Smith's body were part of a shotgun shell of the same type as those which the police had found on appellant's premises. Moreover, appellant's contention that Desjardins' opinion as to the cause of death was inadmissible, becomes ridiculous in the light of appellant's own testimony that Smith died as a result of a charge of shot from a shotgun.