Sylvester Oromoni: There is no proof of chemical intoxication — Pathologist
By Rachel Afolabi
A consultant pathologist at the Central Hospital, Warri, Delta, Dr Clement Vhriterhire, who carried out the first autopsy on late Dowen College Student, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. on Dec. 2, 2021 in Warri, has said there was no proof of chemical intoxication in the deceased body.
Recall that Sylvester Oromoni the late Dowen College Student was allegedly said to have been beaten to death by his classmates.
While testifying on Monday before an Ikeja Coroner’s Court, Dr Vhriterhire, in response to questions from the Coroner, Mr Mikhail Kadiri, said contrary to reports being garnered on the social media there were no signs of chemical intoxication found in the deceased.
The pathologist said his findings revealed that Oromoni died from acute inflammatory pneumonia due to severe sepsis and that before conducting the autopsy, he was informed that the deceased was beaten to death. Upon viewing the body, he did not see any injury showing that the deceased was beaten.
The pathologist said, “He told me the deceased was allegedly beaten which led to his death. That was the initial information before I touched the body.
“After that, I opened the body appropriately. I expected to see certain things on the deceased body based on the information I was given but I did not see any open injury that suggested that he was beaten.
“The only thing external was bruises and scalding of the lips. I was expecting internal bleeding, maybe rupture of the internal organ but I saw none.
“At this point, I informed the member of the family that I didn’t see any evidence the deceased was beaten.
“They called the father and told me that in the process of being beaten, the deceased was given a poisonous substance to drink,” he said.
The pathologist also added that he saw a chocolate coloured material mixed with blood after he opened up the deceased and took the samples for toxicology to know what the substance meant.
“I took some samples, blood from the heart, and a piece of liver, for toxicology. I also took a piece from the tongue and most organs of the body and processed them,” he said.
“In the absence of chemical intoxication, and different organs were showing inflammatory processes, I came about acute inflammatory pneumonia due to severe sepsis. This is my final report.”
The witness had informed the court earlier that he was served a paper by the police on Dec. 2, 2021 to carry out an autopsy, which was conducted at Safe Haven Medicaid, Warri.
