Ongoing murder trial of Frenchman Thomas Debatisse |17 March 2022

Mauritian forensic pathologist called in to examine evidences

The murder trial of Frenchman Thomas Debatisse – accused of murdering his girlfriend at the Club Med Resort on Ste Anne in April last year – is still ongoing and a Mauritian forensic pathologist has been called in by the defense in the case to examine the evidences.

The trial started on February 3, 2022.

After examining all the evidences including photographs and all the autopsy reports conducted here as well as in France presented to him, on Monday this week Dr Satish Boolell presented his findings to the Court through a detailed report.

On Tuesday and yesterday he was cross examined by both the prosecution lawyer Hemanth Kumar and the defense lawyer Basil Hoareau.

A forensic pathologist is a subspecialist in pathology whose area of special competence is the examination of persons who die suddenly, unexpectedly, violently through suicide, homicide, hanging, police custody and also on the operating table. The forensic pathologist is an expert in determining cause and manner of death.

The prosecution and the defense completed their cross examination of Dr Boolell on his findings late yesterday afternoon.

So far some 20 witnesses have given evidence in the case before the Supreme Court. A few more witnesses remain to be heard.

Meanwhile today, Judge Melchior Vidot who is presiding the trial, the lawyers, the accused, the jurors and all those involved in the case will be going to the Club Med Resort on Ste Anne for an afternoon where they will follow a reconstitution of the facts in the murder case.

The trial in Court will resume on Friday when more witnesses will testify.

Marie-Anne Lepathy