After docs' different results from same formula, inquest may turn to engineer
INQUEST | Same formula but two different results. This is the predicament faced by the inquest to determine firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim's cause of death.
Due to this, the Coroner's Court in Shah Alam is expected to call a mechanical engineer to resolve the conundrum...
INQUEST | Same formula but two different results. This is the predicament faced by the inquest to determine firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim's cause of death.
Due to this, the Coroner's Court in Shah Alam is expected to call a mechanical engineer to resolve the conundrum.
The disputed matter involved the application of Newton's second law of motion to calculate the amount of force that struck Adib on the night of the Seafield Seri Mahariamman temple riot last Nov 27.
Medical forensic expert Dr Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi (above) defended his view that retired UKM pathology professor Dr Shahrom Abdul Wahid should have included the weight of the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) van in estimating the amount of force generated.
"It is not only a must (harus), but it is compulsory (wajib)," the 24th witness told the court in his ninth appearance on the stand before Coroner Rofiah Mohamad.
Throughout his testimony, Hafizam repeatedly said he was not a physics expert but offered his counter-argument based on a calculation that took into account the weight of the EMRS van.
Contrary to Shahrom's argument, Hafizam said when taking into account of the weight of the reversing EMRS van, a larger amount of force would be generated upon impact with Adib, enough to cause injuries found in the post-mortem.
"We cannot just take into account (the impact) from how the victim fell.
"And even then, the victim did not fall on his own," he added in reference to Shahrom's suggestions that Adib could have been yanked out rather than voluntarily exiting the van.
Read more: No request but Adib inquest considering third independent pathologist
Shahrom last month applied a similar formula - without taking into account the weight of the EMRS van - and suggested it would not have sufficient force upon impact to send Adib hurtling onto a nearby road kerb.
He was rebutting the conclusion reached by Hafizam and Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) forensic department head Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood that Adib had, by his own volition, come out of the van through the front left passenger side, was hit from the back by the reversing vehicle's open front left passenger door, sent hurtling forward, and finally landed on his chest on a roadside kerb.
Meanwhile, lawyer Syazlin Mansor, who is representing the Fire and Rescue Department as well as the Housing and Local Government Ministry, attempted to grill Hafizam today over alleged inaccuracies in his own calculation.
“When I show you your mistake, I don’t intend to shame you. I am just saying you are confusing the court,” she said, adding that she was not asking the doctor to fix the formula.
Hafizam then reiterated it was never his intention to confuse the court.
"We are in an inquest, not a trial. By right, I could have gone home and rested but I did something which I thought could assist the court.
"I have repeatedly said I am not a physics expert and I am not here to be shamed in this court," he replied.
Syazlin yesterday highlighted possible errors in Hafizam's calculations and the forensic expert said he took it as a request for him to correct the figures and present them before the inquest.
At the end of today's proceedings, Syazlin requested for a mechanical engineer to be brought in as an expert witness to clarify the calculations done by Hafizam and Shahrom.
Inquest conducting officer Fatin Hadni Khairuddin did not object to Syazlin's request.
Coroner Rofiah Mohamad set May 27 and May 28 as the next dates for the inquest.
Adib passed away at the National Heart Institute on Dec 17 at 9.41pm after succumbing to injuries sustained on the night of the riots. The inquest was ordered after two conflicting versions of the cause of his death emerged.
One version claimed he was hit by a vehicle while the other said he was beaten up by a mob.
