A Hawke's Bay man had only minutes to live after being stabbed in the neck, a forensic pathologist has told the high court.
Haami Hanara Photo: Pool photo
Haami Hanara, 14, is on trial in the High Court in Napier for the murder of 40-year-old Flaxmere man Kelly Donner in March.
The Crown alleges the teenager stabbed Mr Donner four times following an argument about a borrowed torch.
Giving evidence this morning, doctor Thambirajah Balanchandra said Mr Donner's carotid artery in his neck was completely severed and he bled to death.
Without medical intervention Mr Donner would have only had between two to five minutes to live, he said.
The carotid artery was a major artery carrying blood from the heart to the brain and once it was severed Mr Donner's organs and brain would have suffered from the lack of blood and oxygen, Dr Balanchandra said.
Mr Donner also suffered a fractured rib, minor fractures to his eye socket and bruising or bleeding to his frontal lobe, as well as several lacerations to his scalp, he said.
Mr Donner's family wept as his wounds were described in court.
Under cross examination by the defendent's lawyer, Eric Forster, Dr Balanchandra said Mr Donner also had THC in his blood.
THC is the active ingredient most commonly associated with cannabis.
"Eighteen micrograms per litre of blood is consistent of smoking a single cannabis cigarette within two hours of death," Dr Balanchandra said.
Mr Donner also had two "superficial stab wounds" to his chest and shoulder, he said.
