Update
GEORGE NEWS - The inquest into the death of Reshall Jimmy (33) continued in the George Regional Court today, Monday 2 September, with state forensic pathologist Dr Mariette Hurst testifying.
Hurst performed the post mortem on Jimmy after he burned to death in his Ford Kuga while on holiday in Wilderness in December 2015.
According to her report, Hurst found no internal or discernible external injuries after a full body scan was done.
In her report she says that Jimmy's blood was cherry red in colour, which is a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning, and his trachea was lined by a large amount of soot which indicates that Jimmy was still alive when he burned.
On a question from public prosecutor, Advocate Anthony Stephen, as to why Jimmy did not get out of the burning car, Hurst said that he was in a confined space and there could've been a combination of toxic gasses in the burning car.
"Fires don't only produce carbon monoxide, they produce various gasses including cyanide - especially when things like plastic and foam rubber are burning. Furthermore fires consume oxygen and he could've been hypoxic. Perhaps he had gone to sleep and didn't realise it was burning; maybe he wasn't aware of the fire and the oxygen level was low. The combination of toxic gasses could've overcome him and he might not have woken up. It is a possibility. Or he was trapped," she said.
Hurst confirmed that, if he was under the influence of gasses like cyanide and /or hypoxic, Jimmy could've suffered from cardiac arrest and it is possible that his reactions were delayed and irrational.
Suicide and murder ruled out
In August, Advocate Gerrie Nel, who represented the Jimmy family during the inquest, announced that he would be withdrawing from the case.
"Our intention has always been to dispel the unfounded rumours and we are now convinced that the evidence led thus far excludes any indication linking the death of the deceased to any criminality, suicide or that he was murdered," Nel said last month.
Stephen also confirmed that suicide and murder were ruled out as possible causes of death.
"I am happy that I have cleared my brother's name of suicide and murder. I look forward to hearing Judge Henney's verdict after closing arguments," Jimmy's sister, Renisha, who attended court proceedings, told the George Herald.
Hurst had also mentioned during her testimony that in suicide attempts the carbon monoxide count in someone's lungs is normally 50% or more. In Jimmy's case there was only 25%.
The case serves in front of Judge Robert Henney and Advocate André Bezuidenhout is for Ford.
The inquest will continue in the Cape Town High Court in front of Judge Robert Henney tomorrow, when Advocate André Bezuidenhout, for Ford, and Stephen will present their final heads of argument.
Read previous articles:
- Nel satisfied, withdrawing from Kuga case
- Reshall Jimmy court case continues
- Reshall Jimmy court case: Eyewitnesses take the stand
- Ford denies responsibility for Jimmy's fiery death
- Bulldog to battle Ford in March
- 'My brother was not shot'
- Ford Kuga fires: Experts to test materials
- Police awaiting expert reports
- Ford Kuga Fires: 'This is not a proper recall'
- Family blames Ford for brother's death
- Update: Man dies in burning car
- Man dies in mystery car blaze in Wilderness
- Man brand dood in motor
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