NZ accused leaves US court for autopsy

The New Zealand student charged with killing his wife in the United States asked to be allowed to leave the courtroom while the court heard details from the autopsy on the dead woman.

Auckland University graduate Blazej Kot, 25, who was studying at Cornell University, is on trial in Tompkins County Court in New York state for murder, accused of fatally stabbing his wife, Dr Caroline Coffey, 28, in June last year.

Her body was found on a running track near their Ithaca apartment. He was alleged to have cut Dr Coffey's throat on the evening of June 2, 2009 and set fire to the apartment.

Kot asked to be excused from court during testimony about his wife's autopsy, WBNG-TV reported.

Kot's lawyer Joseph Joch said it was very upsetting to him.

Autopsy photos of Dr Coffey's body were projected on a screen just to the left of the defence table where Kot sat.

Dr Coffey was struck in the area of her right eye with a long, blunt object before her throat was slashed.

Dr James Terzian, pathologist who conducted the autopsy, testified that her Dr Coffey's throat wound was caused by an extremely sharp instrument like one of the blood-stained utility knives police found in Kot's car the night Dr Coffey was killed.

The wound severed most of the major blood vessels in Dr Coffey's neck, including the carotid artery.

A wound that severe would cause a person to bleed rapidly, lose consciousness within 30 seconds and perish within two minutes, Dr Terzian said.

The bruise found on her right wrist indicated that she warded off a blow before being struck in the eye area - a blow which may have knocked her down and left her dazed.

Dr Terzian said a large blood pool found in the grass beside the victim indicated she was lying face down when she bled to death, and that someone later turned her over.

Prosecutors expect to wrap up their case on Thursday (New Zealand time) and the defence is expected to start its case by calling a psychologist who interviewed Kot after his arrest.

The case is expected to go to the jury late next week.

- NZPA