Blunt force led to death

Barbara Moka

A post-mortem examination revealed Rawene woman Barbara Moka died from multiple blunt force injuries after suffering fractures to her skull, ribs and nose.

Forensic pathologist Joanne Glengarry, who conducted the post mortem on Ms Moka in Auckland on June 27, 2013, detailed the extent and nature of injuries while giving evidence in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday.

Ms Moka's partner Matiu Korewha, 44, is facing a charge of murdering her and dumping her body under a pile of rubbish not far from Omanaia's Te Piiti Marae some time on June 9, 2013.

Dr Glengarry explained the nature of injuries Ms Moka suffered to the 11-person jury of seven women and four men, using diagrams of the human body and photographs taken of the deceased while the post-mortem examination was being carried out.

Ms Moka had suffered a skull fracture, which ultimately caused her death. She said the fracture would have been caused by either a blow to the side of her head or a blow to the tip of the chin.

Severe force would have been applied for the skull fracture to occur, she said. Dr Glengarry said such fractures were normally seen in high-speed motorcycle collisions or falls from a great height.

Asked by Crown solicitor Mike Smith whether a punch could cause such a fracture, she replied it was unusual but it would have to be a heavy punch.

Dr Glengarry said Ms Moka also suffered fractures to four ribs around as a result of some sort of an impact likely to be hit by some sort of an object. The case proceeds.