A pathologist told the Supreme Court that doctors could have saved the life of Daemon Bell if they had properly cleared his airway.

Michael Steckbauer, a forensic pathologist, said that in an autopsy carried out on Mr Bell after his death in 2022, he found that the corrections officer was killed by a blunt-force head injury.

However, he told the court that the injury suffered by Mr Bell, a LeFort II fracture, proved fatal because it caused bleeding that limited his ability to breathe.

He told the court that because bleeding was common with such fractures, it was recommended that doctors made sure the patient’s airways were not compromised.

Dr Steckbauer said that patients with LeFort II fractures should undergo surgery quickly and, if the patient needed to wait for surgery, they should be intubated to ensure their airways were kept clear.

He added that he did not find evidence that Mr Bell had been intubated.

“It’s more likely than not that if that had been done, he would still be alive,” Dr Steckbauer said.

Ajamu Hollis has denied killing Mr Bell, 49, in an altercation at Shelly Bay Park in Hamilton Parish on February 2, 2022.

Prosecutors said that Mr Bell was struck in the face with a gardening hoe after he was caught in the middle of an argument between Mr Hollis and Mr Bell’s brother-in-law, Dion Ball Jr.

Mr Ball and other witnesses have told the court that Mr Hollis began to throw objects at him after an argument about sport became heated.

Mr Hollis then allegedly left the area on a motorcycle and returned a short time later with a hoe.

Witnesses claimed he then struck Mr Bell in the face with the tool twice, causing the victim to drop to the ground bleeding.

Mr Bell was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment, but later died.

As the trial continued yesterday, Dr Steckbauer said that in an autopsy carried out days after the fatal attack, he noticed a range of facial injuries to Mr Bell including small lacerations and missing teeth.

He also noted facial fractures that extended up into the orbital bone and a large amount of clotted blood in his nasal cavity.

Dr Steckbauer said the type of fractures he found were known to be unstable and cause heavy bleeding.

He said that based on the type of weapon used, the injuries were consistent with a single blow.

“Everything is fractured in a single location, which to me indicates a single blow,” he said.

“Was it possible that there were multiple blows? Yes, but it’s more consistent with a single blow to that area.”

The court also heard evidence from Detective Constable Timothy Harvey, who said that he interviewed Mr Ball at Shelly Bay shortly after the fatal attack happened.

“He was clearly upset,” Mr Harvey said. “He had some tears in his eyes. He talked really fast.”

He told the court that he had to tell Mr Ball to speak slowly, but said that he had written down everything he was told at that time.

Under cross-examination by Charles Richardson, counsel for Mr Bell, Mr Harvey said that Mr Ball did not mention anything about having a wooden bat with him during that first interview.

Mr Harvey said he contacted Mr Ball again after he was provided CCTV footage from the area, which appeared to show Mr Ball with an item in his hand.

“As I looked at the footage, I saw he had an object in his hand,” he said. “I didn’t know what the object was.

“I contacted Mr Ball the next day and told him I need to speak with him and get another statement from him.”

Mr Harvey said that he did not show Mr Ball the recording, but that the witness admitted having a wooden bat and brought him to Mr Bell’s car, where the bat was.

The trial continues.

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